Reader Opinion: Vote NO on Initiative 2124

By Paula Townsell, Everett

In his October 6th opinion in the Lynnwood Times, Senator John Braun said that people should vote yes on I-2124 to discard Washington’s long-term care program and “pay less.”

Senator Braun’s view is sadly shortsighted.  The fact is, one day, most of us are going to need long-term care. Maybe it will be due to aging, maybe we’ll fall ill, or maybe we’ll become injured.  But what many people don’t know is that conventional health insurance and Medicare don’t cover long-term care. This means that to get coverage, most Washingtonians must either buy an expensive private long-term care plan, which can deny coverage and hike its premiums even further, or spend down to the poverty level so they qualify for Medicaid.

Senator Braun, neither of those are good options, and neither of them sound like “paying less.”  Washington voters deserve honesty above all else.

The League of Women Voters of Washington, the MS Society, and the AARP, and over 100 other organizations in Washington have all endorsed a “No” vote on Initiative 2124.

Let’s stand up for those who need help. Vote “No” on I-2124.

Read the letter in the Lynnwood Times.