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Looking for information on how to sign up for health insurance? Click here for more information. With our country’s broken health care system and high levels of uninsurance, it should come as no surprise that the United States has quickly become the world leader in the number of COVID-19 cases. Despite being well-resourced and a […]
On March 27, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, allocating $350 billion to help small businesses and nonprofits survive the pandemic-induced economic freefall. One initiative within this legislation, the Paycheck Protection Program, provides federally guaranteed loans to help eligible organizations maintain payrolls through June 2020. All, or a portion of […]
In the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) passed on March 18, Congress enacted the first national paid leave standards. The law requires companies with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid leave to employees impacted by coronavirus, with possible exemption Emergency federal leave goes into effect on April 1 and expires on December 31, […]
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange has implemented a “special enrollment period” through May 8, which will enable people to sign up for coverage on the exchange in the event of a change in income or the loss of a job or employer-based health insurance. No- and low-cost health coverage is available through Washington Healthplanfinder. If you […]
Policy will repeat mistakes of Great Recession stimulus – contact your member of Congress now! UPDATE 4/1/20 8 PM PST: The Trump administration has (partly) changed course: Social Security recipients will not have to file tax returns to receive a stimulus check. But: very low-income seniors and people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income, […]
The coronavirus pandemic has most of us hunkering down at home and thousands of businesses forced to close their doors. New unemployment insurance claims from out-of-work Washingtonians rose the second week in March to more than 14,000, from an average of about 6,000 a week the previous month. Last week, a whopping 133,464 people applied […]
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There’s nothing like a global pandemic and an ensuing economic crisis to drive home the point that health care is not a luxury. Today, on the tenth anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), we take stock of what we’ve gained – and how urgent it is to continue our fight for […]
When your friend is sick, running a temperature of 103, coughing, sweating, and vomiting, do you leave her $200 and think that will is enough for her get better? No, that wouldn’t be enough. Neither is the federal government’s plan to send out $1,200 checks. To get better, your friend needs tender-loving care, health consultations, […]
As the novel coronavirus spreads throughout our community, we are pulling together to help each other out and protect our society.
EOI has closed its office and is asking all staff to work remotely. No one-on-one meetings. We have also put in place this paid sick leave policy: During the current state of emergency, EOI will make up to 3 weeks of additional paid leave available to staff for use if: · they become infected with […]
President Trump, grappling with a brewing economic crisis precipitated by his failure to manage the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, thinks he’s found the answer: a payroll tax cut. It’s the wrong prescription for our economy. As part of a broader package of emergency response, Congress should instead expand Social Security, which – exactly […]
Washington’s 2020 legislative session wraps up just as the extent of the coronavirus crisis is becoming clear and further illuminating holes in our health care system. We knew at the start of session that passing bills with much of a price tag would be an uphill battle, but we did see some movement forward on […]
In the current and accelerating health and economic crisis, state and local policy makers need the tools to activate resources to protect Washington residents. This is particularly important as public health needs are escalating while public revenues are dropping. We understand that the Legislature will adjourn soon, so this may be something that our leaders must […]
The usual lunchtime crowds are gone from downtown Seattle, as businesses and individuals heed the advice of public health officials to stay home if sick and work from home if they can. That means no more long lines at food trucks, restaurants, and retail shops. We don’t know yet how the COVID-19 crisis will ultimately […]
Washington State and Seattle may be the epicenter for coronavirus in the US. Fortunately, we also have a strong public health system and some of the most comprehensive paid leave laws in the country. The best advice from the CDC and public health officials to avoid getting and spreading disease: Stay home when sick Wash […]
Here’s what we’ve seen since the implementation of Paid Family and Medical Leave in Washington state on January 1, 2020: 35,000 applications submitted; $15 million in benefits delivered to Washington workers; And a whole lot of waiting. Applications are now taking 10 weeks to process, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD) which administers Paid […]
Community colleges provide students with a pathway to higher education that is close to home and more affordable. They are especially attractive to students experiencing various barriers to economic opportunity. Community colleges serve diverse populations, spanning from recent high school graduates earning college credit to transfer to four-year institutions to older students with caretaking responsibilities […]
I started working on paid leave issues in 2011, nearly seven months before my first child was born. Until then, I had never thought about how essential a paid family and medical leave program could be. It had not occurred to me that I may suffer from medical complications, or, God forbid, that my baby […]
Washington’s new Paid Family & Medical Leave program fully launched January 1, 2020 to intense demand. More than 22,000 applications came in during the first month, far more than projected. Washington is the first state to build a PFML program from the ground up. The four states that implemented earlier programs were able to add […]
Just last year, Microsoft and Amazon were heralded for agreeing with the Legislature to increase their taxes to fund free tuition for college students. That narrative has proven false in just a few months. It is false because the tuition-free grant only extends to students in families with income less than 55 percent of the […]