The governor’s office said the long-term care benefit is similar to a Medicare benefit.
Under the bill, eligible residents will have access to a $100-per-day allowance for long-term care services, starting in 2025, according to the Times. The money will last up to a year.
To receive the money, residents will pay into a state fund through a payroll tax — $290 for every $50,000 in income — that starts in 2022.
The governor’s office said the bill is designed to help residents who struggle to afford long-term care services. The office notes that Medicare does not cover most types of long-term services and support, and Medicaid only covers services for people who have serious medical needs and have no income or savings.
“Washington workers pay into the trust through a payroll assessment and are then able to become eligible for benefits that help with a range of daily tasks, ranging from bathing and dressing to taking medicine,” the governor’s office said.
The tax will not apply to people with long-term care insurance and will be voluntary for self-employed individuals.
Washington is the first state to pass such legislation, according to the Times, which cites the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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