PUBLIC POLICY


Such legislation addressing long-term Advocates Argentum For You The retirement security crisis is a top


Argentum advocacy priority. For instance, 1 in 3 Americans have less than $5,000 saved for retirement, let alone long-term care services and supports. The recent Na- tional Investment Council (NIC) report on the “Forgotten Middle” also spotlighted the diffi culties middle-income Americans may face in retirement (see pg. 26). Public education is catching up to this


crisis, but diverse groups and state legislators have been working for years to craft eff ective solutions. One of these recently reached the sta-


tus of state law, at Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee’s historic May 13 signing of the Long-Term Care Trust Act. Washington be- came the fi rst state to off er a long-term care insurance program to individuals, available to workers who meet eligibility and pay in through the Long-Term Services and Sup- ports Trust Program. While Washington state is the fi rst to ad-


dress this, it’s not likely to be alone for long. “Who will follow? Watch Illinois and


Michigan,” writes Howard Gleckman, Forbes personal fi nance writer and Urban Institute resident fellow. In addition, Min- nesota is working on two kinds of long-term care ideas designed to address aff ordabili- ty—one that would convert life insurance to long-term care coverage, and another simi- lar to federal Medicare Advantage benefi ts expansion of services. “But mostly, watch California,” Gleck- man adds. “Governor Gavin Newsom says he wants to make services for older adults a top priority of his administration.” Maine tried last year for a ballot initiative


that would fund universal home health care through a tax, and failed, but state advocates are continuing to shape other solutions.


52 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE JULY/AUGUST 2019


care and aff ordability also could face less of a fi ght to get through, if the Washington state experience is an indication. The legis- lation gained what could be called in these times unprecedented bipartisan support; for instance, state committee hearings drew all-favorable testimony from diverse groups, according to Washington State Wire.


Washington The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program law (HB 1087/ SB 5331) underscores the need for individuals of all ages to ensure that they are well-resourced in their later years to cover the cost of long-term services and supports. The program, which will cover assisted


living, off ers anyone who meets the vest- ing and functional eligibility requirements are able to access the current maximum $36,500 lifetime benefi t. The funding source will come in the


form of mandatory W-2 payroll deduc- tions, in which employees in the state will be accessed 0.58 premium on their income, starting in 2022. To vest long-term, one must be a Wash-


ington resident at least 18 years old and contribute for at least 10 years, without an interruption of fi ve years or more. To vest short-term, you must be a Washington resident and contribute for at least three of the past six years. To meet the eligibility requirements, you


must demonstrate a need for assistance with multiple activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, bathing, eating, and others. Beginning January 1, 2025, a qualifi ed individual may become an “eligible benefi - ciary” if the individual has been determined by the state’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to require assis- tance with at least three ADLs.


Hawaii The Kupuna Caregivers Act (HB 607), passed in 2017 in Hawaii, is another ap- proach to helping fi nance long-term care services and supports. It shaped a phenomenon that was already


typical in that state and is becoming more common nationwide: Family members


serving as primary caregivers to a parent or spouse often also work 30 hours a week or more. The bill was funded through a $600,000


appropriation to the Executive Offi ce on Aging. As noted in the bill’s text, some fam- ily caregivers must quit their jobs on the mainland in order to come home to Hawaii and serve as a primary caregiver. The act of putting family over career is


a personal choice. However, this law was designed to alleviate some of the fi nancial burdens caused by this. It off ers a maximum benefi t of $70 a day


for the following services: • Adult day care • Assisted transportation • Chores • Home-delivered meals • Homemaker services • Personal care • Respite care • Transportation The benefi t is paid directly to the service provider upon receipt of an invoice. Some of the general eligibility require-


ments for program benefits include U.S. citizenship or qualifi ed alien status; age 60 or older; and lack of coverage under com- parable programs. The parent or spouse must need assis-


tance with a designated combination of ADLs and/or cognitive impairments; re- quirements are detailed in the bill. The program is not open to residents living in long-term care facilities. Unlike the Washington state program,


Hawaii’s is not funded through universal paycheck withdrawals, but through state funds. The legislature must vote to fund it every few years. The need for the program has put it at capacity. The legislature is slated to reduce the current benefi t to $210 a week from its previous $70 a day, beginning when the 2020 funding is released. Current benefi - ciaries will continue to receive the $70/day until this year’s funding has been exhausted. As retirement security is a major advo-


cacy concern for Argentum and vital to the health of senior living and its residents, we will continue to watch the changing action in long-term care aff ordability legislation.


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