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What is the Washington State Long Term Care Tax, what does it actually cover, and can you still opt out?

In this episode of the Washington State Retirement Planning Podcast, we break down the latest updates to Washington's long term care program, including how the payroll tax works, how much you could receive in benefits, who qualifies, and the changes that have been made since the program was introduced.

We also explain whether it's still possible to opt out, what happens if you leave Washington State, how the benefit can be used for home care, assisted living, nursing homes and other qualifying expenses, and why the state benefit may not be enough to fully cover a long term care event.

Then we discuss whether Washington State employees should consider additional private long term care insurance and how existing pension and Social Security income can reduce the amount of private coverage you may actually need.

Finally, we answer a listener question from a teacher and coach about whether coaching income counts toward their pension. We explain why additional compensation can increase your pension benefit and why it's important to verify that all eligible income is being reported correctly.

00:00 Washington Long Term Care Tax explained

01:13 What the long term care tax covers

03:35 Can you still opt out?

04:09 How the benefit has changed

05:14 Who qualifies and how portability works

06:16 Is Washington's coverage enough?

07:40 Should you buy private long term care insurance?

09:28 2026 long term care tax update

09:47 Q: Does coaching pay count toward your pension?

10:41 Why you should verify your pension income

11:23 A real example of missed coaching income

12:00 Final thoughts and resources

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DISCLAIMER

**Advisory Services offered through Intirety, LLC a registered investment adviser. Intirety LLC and Scenic Financial are not associated with the Washington State Department of Retirement in any way. Scenic Financial makes content available as a service to its clients and other visitors, to be used for informational purposes only. While our best intentions are to provide accurate and timely information, you should always consult with retirement, tax, and legal professionals prior to taking any action. 🕸️