I-2124: ‘Long-term care is a women’s equity issue‘
Seattle Times published a letter to the editor from Dr. Emily Hitchens, President of the American Association of University Women in Washington.
“We all need to be thinking, talking and planning for long-term care for ourselves and our loved ones.
We also need to be talking about how long-term care is a women’s equity issue.
Women pay more for private long-term care insurance than men. Women are more likely than men to have preexisting conditions that disqualify them from private insurance. Women are less able to pay for or save for private long-term care insurance because of the gender pay gap.
Women make up the majority of unpaid supportive caregivers. The burden of unpaid care falls disproportionately on women, with devastating effects on their health, well-being and careers. Women make up the majority of paid supportive caregivers, who themselves do not earn enough to pay for private long-term care insurance or to save for their own long-term care needs.
WA Cares won’t work as an opt-in program. The American Association of University Women of Washington endorses a no vote on Initiative 2124.”
