Debates in Washington State over I-2124, proposal to opt out of WA Cares program stirs controversy

Seattle, Washington – Over a hundred groups and activists have joined together to voice a strong opposition against Initiative 2124 (I-2124), which proposes an option for people to opt out of the state’s WA Cares program in a major development that has attracted great attention across Washington State. Should this proposal be approved, residents would be free to opt out of the required long-term care insurance plan, therefore compromising its feasibility.

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Established to offer vital financial support for long-term health care, WA Cares has drawn controversy. Organized by the conservative group Let’s Go Washington, supporters of I-2124 contend that the program is expensive and that people should be able to choose whether to take part. They believe that allowing an opt-out option will empower workers by providing them with more personal financial control.

Opponents, including powerful organizations like AARP, the Washington State Nurses Association, and the League of Women Voters, argue, however, that I-2124 may essentially destroy the WA Cares program. Representatives from these and other groups reiterated during a Monday press conference the negative effects the project could have on around 3.9 million workers, especially women, who they claim would suffer most.

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Executive director of Caring Across Generations, Ai-jen Poo, emphasized the wider national consequences of the vote and said that defeating I-2124 is not only important for the future of millions of Washingtonians but also for the future of care across America. She also highlighted the terrible reality many people—especially women—who frequently have to quit their work to take care of family members must deal with, stressing how such circumstances can seriously affect their careers and financial stability.

Governor Jay Inslee has also commented on the matter, applauding recent legislative changes allowing citizens to keep their WA Cares benefits even if they relocate out of state, hence increasing the program’s flexibility.

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“Our legislators made it portable. It’s great to know you can take it with you wherever you go,” Inslee said as reported by KGW, expressing his support of the program as a means of helping Washington become a more welcoming place.

Opponents of I-2124, such as Cynthia Stewart of the League of Women Voters, contend that the program would regress to a time when only the wealthy could afford long-term care insurance, so widening the gender income disparity and burdening families coping with long-term medical costs more financially. Starting from July 2026, the WA Cares Fund, she said, is meant to enable all Washingtonians access a $36,500 benefit—adjusted for inflation annually—for long-term care.

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The impending ruling on I-2124 has spurred a statewide conversation on the accessibility and direction of long-term care. Washingtonians must make a crucial decision as both sides keep making their cases that could change the long-term care insurance scene in the state and affect millions now and in the future.