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For decades, employee benefits have largely fallen into one of two categories: benefits sponsored by employers or programs administered by government. WA Cares introduces a different way of thinking. Rather than replacing private insurance or expecting employers to solve the long-term care challenge alone, Washington has established a public foundation that can be enhanced through private solutions.

Employers are looking for more than product recommendations. They want perspective. They want to understand how supplemental long-term care fits into their overall benefits strategy, whether employees are likely to value it, and how implementation might affect future enrollment decisions.

Five Questions Every HR Director Should Ask About WA Cares Supplemental Benefits Every emerging benefit creates questions. That's healthy. Before considering any new voluntary benefit, HR leaders should evaluate how it fits within their broader employee benefits philosophy and workforce needs. Here are five questions worth asking. 1. Does this solve a real employee need? Long-term care planning affects nearly every employee eventually—either personally or as a caregiver. The

The emergence of WA Cares has created the conditions for a new generation of supplemental long-term care products that are designed with a very different purpose. Rather than replacing traditional long-term care insurance, these products complement the foundation that WA Cares already provides.

Employee benefits have always evolved alongside workforce needs. Retirement plans became commonplace as life expectancy increased. Wellness programs emerged as employers recognized the value of prevention. Financial wellness initiatives expanded as organizations looked beyond traditional compensation to support employees' long-term security. Long-term care is following a similar path.

For years, long-term care planning suffered from an awareness problem. Most people understood that aging could eventually require assistance, but few considered the financial implications until a parent, spouse, or close friend experienced the need firsthand. WA Cares has changed that dynamic.

WA Cares did more than create America’s first publicly funded long-term care insurance program. It changed the marketplace for long-term care planning. It did so by creating something that never existed before—a broad foundation upon which a new generation of private supplemental long-term care products could be built.

For brokers and consultants in WA this is a positioning moment. After the dust settled on WA Cares opt-outs approximately 85% of employees were still enrolled in the program. Get ahead of the conversation with your clients and position the opportunity.