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Progress Through Persistence: How AARP Advocated for You in Olympia

Advancing health, housing, and consumer protections

Cathy MacCaul,

AARP Washington Advocacy Director

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As changes at the federal level create uncertainty for older adults and families, Washington state lawmakers took steps this year to protect affordability, health care access, and financial security. While the 2026 legislative session was challenging, AARP was there, advocating for you and keeping the focus on real solutions.

Many of the legislative policy bills AARP worked on this session were small or technical. But together, they add up to meaningful progress toward what matters most: affordable health care, strong consumer protections, retirement security, and communities where people can live with purpose and dignity at every age.

This session delivered important advances that help keep costs down and stability up, including:

Expanded property tax relief, helping more low-income older adults remain in their homes.
Protections to preserve no-cost preventive health care, including screenings and vaccines.
Stronger life insurance safeguards, preventing accidental policy cancellations during illness or hospitalization.
Greater flexibility for retirees, supporting long-term financial security and planning.

These changes don’t always make headlines—but they make a meaningful difference for people living on fixed incomes and managing rising costs.

AARP also strongly advocated during the budget process to protect adult physical, occupational, and speech therapy under Apple Health (Medicaid), as well as to continue investing in Health Homes services. Together, these supports help people manage chronic conditions, stay mobile, reduce fall risk, communicate safely, and remain independent in their homes and communities.

Health Homes funding is especially important for individuals with complex health needs, providing coordinated, whole-person care that improves outcomes while helping avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or institutional care. These services also support Washington’s 1.3 million unpaid family caregivers, giving them tools and guidance to care for loved ones safely and sustainably.

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Cutting these proven, community-based supports would increase costs by driving more people into hospitals or long-term care. AARP made clear that protecting therapy services and Health Homes funding is both compassionate and fiscally responsible.

With the growth of new technologies, AARP also pushed hard for legislation to protect consumers from crypto kiosk scams, which increasingly target older adults. While that bill did not pass this session, the issue is not going away, and neither is AARP. Protecting people from fraud and financial exploitation remains a top priority, and advocacy efforts will continue next year.

None of this work happens alone. AARP’s advocacy is powered by members and volunteers who use their voices, strong community partners who bring expertise and lived experience, and dedicated AARP colleagues who work every day on behalf of older Washingtonians. Lawmakers pay attention when they hear directly from the people they serve, and those voices made a real impact this session.

AARP will keep fighting for affordable health care, strong consumer protections, and communities that support aging in place and caregiving so that growing older in Washington means security, choice, and dignity.

Advocacy continues beyond the close of a session. Progress doesn’t come all at once; it is often gradual, requiring ongoing effort, collaboration, and sustained involvement.

AARP is steadfast in our commitment; we will continue this work alongside you, and we are confident that we can build a stronger future together.