S-0641.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5655
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senators von Reichbauer, Talmadge, Moore and McMullen.
Read first time February 13, 1991. Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.
AN ACT Relating to unfair discrimination in insurance based upon choice of health care practitioner; amending RCW 48.30.300; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 48.30.300 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 119 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
No
person or entity engaged in the business of insurance in this state shall
refuse to issue any contract of insurance or cancel or decline to renew such
contract because of the sex ((or)), marital status, or choice
of health care provider, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or
physical handicap of the insured or prospective insured. The amount of
benefits payable, or any term, rate, condition, or type of coverage shall not
be restricted, modified, excluded, increased or reduced on the basis of the sex
((or)), marital status, or choice of health care provider,
or be restricted, modified, excluded, or reduced on the basis of the
presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap of the insured or
prospective insured. These provisions shall not prohibit fair discrimination
on the basis of sex, ((or)) marital status, or choice of health care
provider, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical handicap,
when bona fide statistical differences in risk or exposure have been
substantiated. For purposes of this section, "health care
provider" means those health professions specified in RCW 18.120.020(4)
except embalmers and funeral directors under chapter 18.39 RCW, veterinarians
and animal technicians under chapter 18.92 RCW, and persons registered or
certified under chapter 18.19 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.