Administrators of Washington state’s long-term-care law are hitting news outlets and plying health care writers with messages of hope about a social program they say will provide “peace of mind,” even though it does nothing of the sort. 

The government website selling the WA Cares program says, “By contributing a small amount from each paycheck while we’re working, we can all pay for long-term care when we need it.” But that’s far from the case. Washingtonians who move out of state after retirement and have long-term-care needs won’t benefit from the program, regardless of how much of their money has gone toward the WA Cares Fund. Neither will workers who didn’t pay into the fund 10 or more years without a five-year break. Failing to need enough assisted care — help with three or more activities of daily living — also rules you out.