1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

As a resident of Greenfield and a constituent in your district, I am writing to urge you to champion a critical, proactive solution to one of the most pressing health and economic crises facing our Commonwealth: the skyrocketing cost of long-term elder care. A recent New York Times report, "A New Option for Long-Term Care Costs" (June 13, 2026), highlights Washington State's launch of "WA Cares"—the nation’s first state-operated, public long-term care insurance program. Funded by a modest 0.58% payroll surcharge, it provides residents with a flexible, inflation-adjusted lifetime benefit to cover essential needs like home care, transportation, home modifications, and even compensation for family caregivers. I believe Massachusetts should lead the way in establishing a similar program. The reality of long-term care in our country is a "five-alarm fire" for middle-class families: The Coverage Gap: An estimated 70% of Americans will need long-term care as they age, yet Medicare rarely covers it. The Private Market Failure: Traditional private long-term care insurance has become prohibitively expensive, and premium spikes have forced major carriers out of the market. Fewer than 3% of Americans over age 50 hold a policy. Medicaid Impoverishment: To qualify for institutional long-term care under Medicaid, middle-class families are forced to completely liquidate their hard-earned life savings and assets, leaving surviving spouses vulnerable. The Washington State model proves that a small, mandatory contribution during our working years can build a vital safety net. It allows older adults to age in place with dignity, protects family savings from catastrophic depletion, and will ultimately reduce the long-term financial strain on our state's Medicaid infrastructure. Massachusetts has a long, proud history of leading the nation in healthcare innovation. I ask that you look closely at the successes and frameworks of the WA Cares program and consider introducing or supporting legislation to establish a public long-term care trust fund here in the Commonwealth. Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your continued dedication to the well-being of our community's families.