Washington state lawmakers approved nearly $20 million to maintain long-term care coverage for lawfully present immigrants, but the funding will now cover only 173 people instead of the projected 1,200, according to Service Employees International Union 775 Secretary-Treasurer Adam Glickman. The discrepancy stems from updated federal guidance that reduced the expected number of eligible individuals. Originally, lawmakers anticipated the $20 million would cover 300 people in the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, with plans to expand to 1,200 people using nearly $100 million annually starting in July 2027. The current shortfall means immigrants who rely on this coverage face potential health risks and financial strain, as noted by union representatives.
WA Immigrant Long-Term Care Funding Falls Short
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- ✓Washington state lawmakers approved nearly $20 million to maintain long-term care coverage for lawfully present immigrants“Washington state lawmakers this year approved spending nearly $20 million to ensure immigrants here could retain long-term care insurance coverage they’re set to lose under federal law.”
- ✓The funding will now cover only 173 people instead of the projected 1,200“It turns out that it’ll only be enough for 173. That’s according to Adam Glickman, secretary-treasurer for Service Employees International Union 775, the caregivers’ union, which pushed hard for the funding.”
- ✓The discrepancy stems from updated federal guidance that reduced the expected number of eligible individuals“It turns out that it’ll only be enough for 173. That’s according to Adam Glickman, secretary-treasurer for Service Employees International Union 775, the caregivers’ union, which pushed hard for the funding. The revelation, based on changing assumptions from federal guidance, was “disappointing and frustrating,” Glickman said.”
- ✓Originally, lawmakers anticipated the $20 million would cover 300 people in the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2027“Lawmakers assumed the $20 million would cover about 300 people in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2027, said Rep. Nicole Macri, D-Seattle.”
- ✓Lawmakers planned to expand coverage to 1,200 people using nearly $100 million annually starting in July 2027“Lawmakers assumed the $20 million would cover about 300 people in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2027, before ramping up to the full, nearly 1,200, with closer to $100 million per year in the next two-year budget starting in July 2027, said Rep. Nicole Macri, D-Seattle.”
- ✓The current shortfall means immigrants who rely on this coverage face potential health risks“It puts individuals and families in really difficult situations, and really, in some cases, dangerous and unhealthy situations, and really, in some cases, dangerous and unhealthy situations, he said.”
- ✓The current shortfall means immigrants who rely on this coverage face financial strain“It turns out that it’ll only be enough for 173. That’s according to Adam Glickman, secretary-treasurer for Service Employees International Union 775, the caregivers’ union, which pushed hard for the funding. The revelation, based on changing assumptions from federal guidance, was “disappointing and frustrating,” Glickman said. “It puts individuals and families in really difficult situations, and really, in some cases, dangerous and unhealthy situations,” he said.”
- ✓Union representatives noted the current shortfall means immigrants who rely on this coverage face potential health risks and financial strain““It puts individuals and families in really difficult situations, and really, in some cases, dangerous and unhealthy situations,” he said.”
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