Employers start collecting long-term care premiums in January.
The following information is provided by the Employment Security Department (ESD) to explain employer responsibilities under the Washington Cares (long-term care) Act as passed by the Legislature.
Collecting premiums. Employers won’t pay any share of premiums for their employees. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, however, you’ll be required to report your employees’ wages and hours and collect Washington Cares premiums from your employees’ wages—the same way you do now for Paid Leave.
No payroll? No report. You don’t have to file a report for quarters where your employees had no hours or wages.
Tracking employee exemptions. Some employees may choose to apply for an exemption from Washington Cares coverage. It’s their responsibility to apply and—if approved—to notify and give you a copy of their approval letter from the Employment Security Department (ESD). Once approved, exemptions are permanent and employees can never opt back in.
Once notified, employers must:
- Not deduct Washington Cares premiums from workers who’ve provided an ESD exemption approval letter. Note: this letter will list the date the employee’s exemption goes into effect.
- Keep a copy of their workers’ approval letters on file.
You can still continue offering long-term care insurance to your employees. You still have the option to offer private long-term care insurance to your employees, but it’s their responsibility to decide whether to apply for an exemption from Washington Cares coverage. You can’t apply for exemptions on behalf of your employees.
Learn more There’s plenty to know about Washington Cares, and we’re committed to making your experience as easy as possible with helpful information and resources. Visit wacaresfund.wa.gov where you can:
- Explore our Learn More page, which features answers to frequently asked questions and links to sign up for live Washington Cares webinars with our staff.
- Use our Employer Toolkit to download monthly messages you can share with your employees.
- View our Employer Information page to get more details on your role as an employer.