Wrong-headed initiative would ultimately kill WA Cares

To the editor — In a recent Yakima Herald-Republic article titled, “Voters this fall will decide whether you can opt out of WA Cares,” the author did a great job showing just how important long–term care is, but didn’t describe the dangers of Initiative 2124 accurately.

They wrote, “a ‘yes’ vote will make WA Cares voluntary and a ‘no’ vote will keep the program as is.”

Unfortunately, that’s misleading. Most analysts say that by making our state’s long-term care program voluntary, it will cause a “death spiral,” ultimately bankrupting and killing the program. Millions of Washingtonians would be left without any long-term care coverage.

Put simply, Initiative 2124 is a step backward for Washington — a big one.

That’s why organizations like AARP, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are encouraging people to vote no on I-2124.

Rachel Stowell

Read the story in the Yakima Herald-Republic