READ FIRST TIME 02/08/11.   

     AN ACT Relating to changes for implementation of the affordable care act in Washington state; amending RCW 48.20.435, 48.21.270, 48.43.530, 48.43.535, 48.44.215, 48.44.380, 48.46.325, 48.46.460, 48.20.025, 48.44.017, 48.46.062, 48.41.060, 48.41.080, 48.41.100, 48.41.140, and 48.21.157; reenacting and amending RCW 48.43.005; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 48.20.435 and 2007 c 259 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any disability insurance contract that provides coverage for a subscriber's dependent must offer the option of covering any ((unmarried)) dependent under the age of ((twenty-five)) twenty-six.

Sec. 2   RCW 48.21.270 and 1984 c 190 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) An insurer shall not require proof of insurability as a condition for issuance of the conversion policy.
     (2) A conversion policy may not contain an exclusion for preexisting conditions ((except)) for any applicant who is under age nineteen. For policies issued to those age nineteen and older, an exclusion for a preexisting condition is permitted only to the extent that a waiting period for a preexisting condition has not been satisfied under the group policy.
     (3) An insurer must offer at least three policy benefit plans that comply with the following:
     (a) A major medical plan with a five thousand dollar deductible ((and a lifetime benefit maximum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars)) per person;
     (b) A comprehensive medical plan with a five hundred dollar deductible ((and a lifetime benefit maximum of five hundred thousand dollars)) per person; and
     (c) A basic medical plan with a one thousand dollar deductible ((and a lifetime maximum of seventy-five thousand dollars)) per person.
     (4) The insurance commissioner may revise the ((deductibles and lifetime benefit)) deductible amounts in subsection (3) of this section from time to time to reflect changing health care costs.
     (5) The insurance commissioner shall adopt rules to establish minimum benefit standards for conversion policies.
     (6) The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish specific standards for conversion policy provisions. These rules may include but are not limited to:
     (a) Terms of renewability;
     (b) Nonduplication of coverage;
     (c) Benefit limitations, exceptions, and reductions; and
     (d) Definitions of terms.

Sec. 3   RCW 48.43.005 and 2010 c 292 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     Unless otherwise specifically provided, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "Adjusted community rate" means the rating method used to establish the premium for health plans adjusted to reflect actuarially demonstrated differences in utilization or cost attributable to geographic region, age, family size, and use of wellness activities.
     (2) "Adverse benefit determination" means a denial, reduction, or termination of, or a failure to provide or make payment, in whole or in part, for a benefit, including a denial, reduction, termination, or failure to provide or make payment that is based on a determination of an enrollee's or applicant's eligibility to participate in a plan, and including, with respect to group health plans, a denial, reduction, or termination of, or a failure to provide or make payment, in whole or in part, for a benefit resulting from the application of any utilization review, as well as a failure to cover an item or service for which benefits are otherwise provided because it is determined to be experimental or investigational or not medically necessary or appropriate.
     (3) "Basic health plan" means the plan described under chapter 70.47 RCW, as revised from time to time.
     (((3))) (4) "Basic health plan model plan" means a health plan as required in RCW 70.47.060(2)(e).
     (((4))) (5) "Basic health plan services" means that schedule of covered health services, including the description of how those benefits are to be administered, that are required to be delivered to an enrollee under the basic health plan, as revised from time to time.
     (((5))) (6) "Catastrophic health plan" means:
     (a) In the case of a contract, agreement, or policy covering a single enrollee, a health benefit plan requiring a calendar year deductible of, at a minimum, one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars and an annual out-of-pocket expense required to be paid under the plan (other than for premiums) for covered benefits of at least three thousand five hundred dollars, both amounts to be adjusted annually by the insurance commissioner; and
     (b) In the case of a contract, agreement, or policy covering more than one enrollee, a health benefit plan requiring a calendar year deductible of, at a minimum, three thousand five hundred dollars and an annual out-of-pocket expense required to be paid under the plan (other than for premiums) for covered benefits of at least six thousand dollars, both amounts to be adjusted annually by the insurance commissioner; or
     (c) Any health benefit plan that provides benefits for hospital inpatient and outpatient services, professional and prescription drugs provided in conjunction with such hospital inpatient and outpatient services, and excludes or substantially limits outpatient physician services and those services usually provided in an office setting.
     In July 2008, and in each July thereafter, the insurance commissioner shall adjust the minimum deductible and out-of-pocket expense required for a plan to qualify as a catastrophic plan to reflect the percentage change in the consumer price index for medical care for a preceding twelve months, as determined by the United States department of labor. The adjusted amount shall apply on the following January 1st.
     (((6))) (7) "Certification" means a determination by a review organization that an admission, extension of stay, or other health care service or procedure has been reviewed and, based on the information provided, meets the clinical requirements for medical necessity, appropriateness, level of care, or effectiveness under the auspices of the applicable health benefit plan.
     (((7))) (8) "Concurrent review" means utilization review conducted during a patient's hospital stay or course of treatment.
     (((8))) (9) "Covered person" or "enrollee" means a person covered by a health plan including an enrollee, subscriber, policyholder, beneficiary of a group plan, or individual covered by any other health plan.
     (((9))) (10) "Dependent" means, at a minimum, the enrollee's legal spouse and ((unmarried)) dependent children who qualify for coverage under the enrollee's health benefit plan.
     (((10))) (11) "Emergency medical condition" means ((the emergent and acute onset of a symptom or symptoms, including severe pain, that would lead a prudent layperson acting reasonably to believe that a health condition exists that requires immediate medical attention, if failure to provide medical attention would result in serious impairment to bodily functions or serious dysfunction of a bodily organ or part, or would place the person's health in serious jeopardy)) a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, such that a prudent layperson, who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in a condition (a) placing the health of the individual, or with respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her unborn child, in serious jeopardy, (b) serious impairment to bodily functions, or (c) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
     (((11))) (12) "Emergency services" means ((otherwise covered health care services medically necessary to evaluate and treat an emergency medical condition, provided in a hospital emergency department)) a medical screening examination, as required under section 1867 of the social security act (42 U.S.C. 1395dd), that is within the capability of the emergency department of a hospital, including ancillary services routinely available to the emergency department to evaluate that emergency medical condition, and further medical examination and treatment, to the extent they are within the capabilities of the staff and facilities available at the hospital, as are required under section 1867 of the social security act (42 U.S.C. 1395dd) to stabilize the patient. Stabilize, with respect to an emergency medical condition, has the meaning given in section 1867(e)(3) of the social security act (42 U.S.C. 1395dd(e)(3)).
     (((12))) (13) "Employee" has the same meaning given to the term, as of January 1, 2008, under section 3(6) of the federal employee retirement income security act of 1974.
     (((13))) (14) "Enrollee point-of-service cost-sharing" means amounts paid to health carriers directly providing services, health care providers, or health care facilities by enrollees and may include copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles.
     (((14))) (15) "Final external review decision" means a determination by an independent review organization at the conclusion of an external review.
     (16) "Final internal adverse benefit determination" means an adverse benefit determination that has been upheld by a health plan or carrier at the completion of the internal appeals process, or an adverse benefit determination with respect to which the internal appeals process has been exhausted under the exhaustion rules described in RCW 48.43.530 and 48.43.535.
     (17) "Grandfathered health plan" means a group health plan or an individual health plan that under section 1251 of the patient protection and affordable care act, P.L. 111-148 (2010) and as amended by the health care and education reconciliation act, P.L. 111-152 (2010) is not subject to subtitles A or C of the act as amended.
     (18) "Grievance" means a written complaint submitted by or on behalf of a covered person regarding: (a) Denial of payment for medical services or nonprovision of medical services included in the covered person's health benefit plan, or (b) service delivery issues other than denial of payment for medical services or nonprovision of medical services, including dissatisfaction with medical care, waiting time for medical services, provider or staff attitude or demeanor, or dissatisfaction with service provided by the health carrier.
     (((15))) (19) "Health care facility" or "facility" means hospices licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, rural health care facilities as defined in RCW 70.175.020, psychiatric hospitals licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW, nursing homes licensed under chapter 18.51 RCW, community mental health centers licensed under chapter 71.05 or 71.24 RCW, kidney disease treatment centers licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, ambulatory diagnostic, treatment, or surgical facilities licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, drug and alcohol treatment facilities licensed under chapter 70.96A RCW, and home health agencies licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, and includes such facilities if owned and operated by a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state and such other facilities as required by federal law and implementing regulations.
     (((16))) (20) "Health care provider" or "provider" means:
     (a) A person regulated under Title 18 or chapter 70.127 RCW, to practice health or health-related services or otherwise practicing health care services in this state consistent with state law; or
     (b) An employee or agent of a person described in (a) of this subsection, acting in the course and scope of his or her employment.
     (((17))) (21) "Health care service" means that service offered or provided by health care facilities and health care providers relating to the prevention, cure, or treatment of illness, injury, or disease.
     (((18))) (22) "Health carrier" or "carrier" means a disability insurer regulated under chapter 48.20 or 48.21 RCW, a health care service contractor as defined in RCW 48.44.010, or a health maintenance organization as defined in RCW 48.46.020.
     (((19))) (23) "Health plan" or "health benefit plan" means any policy, contract, or agreement offered by a health carrier to provide, arrange, reimburse, or pay for health care services except the following:
     (a) Long-term care insurance governed by chapter 48.84 or 48.83 RCW;
     (b) Medicare supplemental health insurance governed by chapter 48.66 RCW;
     (c) Coverage supplemental to the coverage provided under chapter 55, Title 10, United States Code;
     (d) Limited health care services offered by limited health care service contractors in accordance with RCW 48.44.035;
     (e) Disability income;
     (f) Coverage incidental to a property/casualty liability insurance policy such as automobile personal injury protection coverage and homeowner guest medical;
     (g) Workers' compensation coverage;
     (h) Accident only coverage;
     (i) Specified disease or illness-triggered fixed payment insurance, hospital confinement fixed payment insurance, or other fixed payment insurance offered as an independent, noncoordinated benefit;
     (j) Employer-sponsored self-funded health plans;
     (k) Dental only and vision only coverage; and
     (l) Plans deemed by the insurance commissioner to have a short-term limited purpose or duration, or to be a student-only plan that is guaranteed renewable while the covered person is enrolled as a regular full-time undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited higher education institution, after a written request for such classification by the carrier and subsequent written approval by the insurance commissioner.
     (((20))) (24) "Material modification" means a change in the actuarial value of the health plan as modified of more than five percent but less than fifteen percent.
     (((21))) (25) "Preexisting condition" means any medical condition, illness, or injury that existed any time prior to the effective date of coverage.
     (((22))) (26) "Premium" means all sums charged, received, or deposited by a health carrier as consideration for a health plan or the continuance of a health plan. Any assessment or any "membership," "policy," "contract," "service," or similar fee or charge made by a health carrier in consideration for a health plan is deemed part of the premium. "Premium" shall not include amounts paid as enrollee point-of-service cost-sharing.
     (((23))) (27) "Review organization" means a disability insurer regulated under chapter 48.20 or 48.21 RCW, health care service contractor as defined in RCW 48.44.010, or health maintenance organization as defined in RCW 48.46.020, and entities affiliated with, under contract with, or acting on behalf of a health carrier to perform a utilization review.
     (((24))) (28) "Small employer" or "small group" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, political subdivision, sole proprietor, or self-employed individual that is actively engaged in business that employed an average of at least one but no more than fifty employees, during the previous calendar year and employed at least one employee on the first day of the plan year, is not formed primarily for purposes of buying health insurance, and in which a bona fide employer-employee relationship exists. In determining the number of employees, companies that are affiliated companies, or that are eligible to file a combined tax return for purposes of taxation by this state, shall be considered an employer. Subsequent to the issuance of a health plan to a small employer and for the purpose of determining eligibility, the size of a small employer shall be determined annually. Except as otherwise specifically provided, a small employer shall continue to be considered a small employer until the plan anniversary following the date the small employer no longer meets the requirements of this definition. A self-employed individual or sole proprietor who is covered as a group of one must also: (a) Have been employed by the same small employer or small group for at least twelve months prior to application for small group coverage, and (b) verify that he or she derived at least seventy-five percent of his or her income from a trade or business through which the individual or sole proprietor has attempted to earn taxable income and for which he or she has filed the appropriate internal revenue service form 1040, schedule C or F, for the previous taxable year, except a self-employed individual or sole proprietor in an agricultural trade or business, must have derived at least fifty-one percent of his or her income from the trade or business through which the individual or sole proprietor has attempted to earn taxable income and for which he or she has filed the appropriate internal revenue service form 1040, for the previous taxable year.
     (((25))) (29) "Utilization review" means the prospective, concurrent, or retrospective assessment of the necessity and appropriateness of the allocation of health care resources and services of a provider or facility, given or proposed to be given to an enrollee or group of enrollees.
     (((26))) (30) "Wellness activity" means an explicit program of an activity consistent with department of health guidelines, such as, smoking cessation, injury and accident prevention, reduction of alcohol misuse, appropriate weight reduction, exercise, automobile and motorcycle safety, blood cholesterol reduction, and nutrition education for the purpose of improving enrollee health status and reducing health service costs.

Sec. 4   RCW 48.43.530 and 2000 c 5 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Each carrier that offers a health plan must have a fully operational, comprehensive grievance process that complies with the requirements of this section and any rules adopted by the commissioner to implement this section. For the purposes of this section, the commissioner shall consider grievance process standards adopted by national managed care accreditation organizations and state agencies that purchase managed health care services, and for health plans that are not grandfathered health plans as approved by the United States department of health and human services or the United States department of labor.
     (2) Each carrier must process as a complaint an enrollee's expression of dissatisfaction about customer service or the quality or availability of a health service. Each carrier must implement procedures for registering and responding to oral and written complaints in a timely and thorough manner.
     (3) Each carrier must provide written notice to an enrollee or the enrollee's designated representative, and the enrollee's provider, of its decision to deny, modify, reduce, or terminate payment, coverage, authorization, or provision of health care services or benefits, including the admission to or continued stay in a health care facility.
     (4) Each carrier must process as an appeal an enrollee's written or oral request that the carrier reconsider: (a) Its resolution of a complaint made by an enrollee; or (b) its decision to deny, modify, reduce, or terminate payment, coverage, authorization, or provision of health care services or benefits, including the admission to, or continued stay in, a health care facility. A carrier must not require that an enrollee file a complaint prior to seeking appeal of a decision under (b) of this subsection.
     (5) To process an appeal, each carrier must:
     (a) Provide written notice to the enrollee when the appeal is received;
     (b) Assist the enrollee with the appeal process;
     (c) Make its decision regarding the appeal within thirty days of the date the appeal is received. An appeal must be expedited if the enrollee's provider or the carrier's medical director reasonably determines that following the appeal process response timelines could seriously jeopardize the enrollee's life, health, or ability to regain maximum function. The decision regarding an expedited appeal must be made within seventy-two hours of the date the appeal is received;
     (d) Cooperate with a representative authorized in writing by the enrollee;
     (e) Consider information submitted by the enrollee;
     (f) Investigate and resolve the appeal; and
     (g) Provide written notice of its resolution of the appeal to the enrollee and, with the permission of the enrollee, to the enrollee's providers. The written notice must explain the carrier's decision and the supporting coverage or clinical reasons and the enrollee's right to request independent review of the carrier's decision under RCW 48.43.535.
     (6) Written notice required by subsection (3) of this section must explain:
     (a) The carrier's decision and the supporting coverage or clinical reasons; and
     (b) The carrier's appeal process, including information, as appropriate, about how to exercise the enrollee's rights to obtain a second opinion, and how to continue receiving services as provided in this section.
     (7) When an enrollee requests that the carrier reconsider its decision to modify, reduce, or terminate an otherwise covered health service that an enrollee is receiving through the health plan and the carrier's decision is based upon a finding that the health service, or level of health service, is no longer medically necessary or appropriate, the carrier must continue to provide that health service until the appeal is resolved. If the resolution of the appeal or any review sought by the enrollee under RCW 48.43.535 affirms the carrier's decision, the enrollee may be responsible for the cost of this continued health service.
     (8) Each carrier must provide a clear explanation of the grievance process upon request, upon enrollment to new enrollees, and annually to enrollees and subcontractors.
     (9) Each carrier must ensure that the grievance process is accessible to enrollees who are limited English speakers, who have literacy problems, or who have physical or mental disabilities that impede their ability to file a grievance.
     (10) Each carrier must: Track each appeal until final resolution; maintain, and make accessible to the commissioner for a period of three years, a log of all appeals; and identify and evaluate trends in appeals.

Sec. 5   RCW 48.43.535 and 2000 c 5 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is a need for a process for the fair consideration of disputes relating to decisions by carriers that offer a health plan to deny, modify, reduce, or terminate coverage of or payment for health care services for an enrollee.
     (2) An enrollee may seek review by a certified independent review organization of a carrier's decision to deny, modify, reduce, or terminate coverage of or payment for a health care service, after exhausting the carrier's grievance process and receiving a decision that is unfavorable to the enrollee, or after the carrier has exceeded the timelines for grievances provided in RCW 48.43.530, without good cause and without reaching a decision.
     (3) The commissioner must establish and use a rotational registry system for the assignment of a certified independent review organization to each dispute. The system should be flexible enough to ensure that an independent review organization has the expertise necessary to review the particular medical condition or service at issue in the dispute, and that any approved independent review organization does not have a conflict of interest that will influence its independence.
     (4) Carriers must provide to the appropriate certified independent review organization, not later than the third business day after the date the carrier receives a request for review, a copy of:
     (a) Any medical records of the enrollee that are relevant to the review;
     (b) Any documents used by the carrier in making the determination to be reviewed by the certified independent review organization;
     (c) Any documentation and written information submitted to the carrier in support of the appeal; and
     (d) A list of each physician or health care provider who has provided care to the enrollee and who may have medical records relevant to the appeal. Health information or other confidential or proprietary information in the custody of a carrier may be provided to an independent review organization, subject to rules adopted by the commissioner.
     (5) Enrollees must be provided with at least five business days to submit to the independent review organization in writing additional information that the independent review organization must consider when conducting the external review. The independent review organization must forward any additional information submitted by an enrollee to the plan or carrier within one business day of receipt by the independent review organization.
     (6) The medical reviewers from a certified independent review organization will make determinations regarding the medical necessity or appropriateness of, and the application of health plan coverage provisions to, health care services for an enrollee. The medical reviewers' determinations must be based upon their expert medical judgment, after consideration of relevant medical, scientific, and cost-effectiveness evidence, and medical standards of practice in the state of Washington. Except as provided in this subsection, the certified independent review organization must ensure that determinations are consistent with the scope of covered benefits as outlined in the medical coverage agreement. Medical reviewers may override the health plan's medical necessity or appropriateness standards if the standards are determined upon review to be unreasonable or inconsistent with sound, evidence-based medical practice.
     (((6))) (7) Once a request for an independent review determination has been made, the independent review organization must proceed to a final determination, unless requested otherwise by both the carrier and the enrollee or the enrollee's representative.
     (((7))) (a) An enrollee or carrier may request an expedited external review if the adverse benefit determination or internal adverse benefit determination concerns an admission, availability of care, continued stay, or health care service for which the claimant received emergency services but has not been discharged from a facility; or involves a medical condition for which the standard external review time frame of forty-five days would seriously jeopardize the life or health of the enrollee or jeopardize the enrollee's ability to regain maximum function. The independent review organization must make its decision to uphold or reverse the adverse benefit determination or final internal adverse benefit determination and notify the enrollee and the carrier or health plan of the determination as expeditiously as possible but within not more than seventy-two hours after the receipt of the request for expedited external review. If the notice is not in writing, the independent review organization must provide written confirmation of the decision within forty-eight hours after the date of the notice of the decision.
     (b) For claims involving experimental or investigational treatments, the internal review organization must ensure that adequate clinical and scientific experience and protocols are taken into account as part of the external review process.
     (8) Carriers must timely implement the certified independent review organization's determination, and must pay the certified independent review organization's charges.
     (((8))) (9) When an enrollee requests independent review of a dispute under this section, and the dispute involves a carrier's decision to modify, reduce, or terminate an otherwise covered health service that an enrollee is receiving at the time the request for review is submitted and the carrier's decision is based upon a finding that the health service, or level of health service, is no longer medically necessary or appropriate, the carrier must continue to provide the health service if requested by the enrollee until a determination is made under this section. If the determination affirms the carrier's decision, the enrollee may be responsible for the cost of the continued health service.
     (((9))) (10) Each certified independent review organization must maintain written records and make them available upon request to the commissioner.
     (11) A certified independent review organization may notify the office of the insurance commissioner if, based upon its review of disputes under this section, it finds a pattern of substandard or egregious conduct by a carrier.
     (((10))) (12)(a) The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this section after considering relevant standards adopted by national managed care accreditation organizations and the national association of insurance commissioners.
     (b) This section is not intended to supplant any existing authority of the office of the insurance commissioner under this title to oversee and enforce carrier compliance with applicable statutes and rules.

Sec. 6   RCW 48.44.215 and 2007 c 259 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any individual health care service plan contract that provides coverage for a subscriber's dependent must offer the option of covering any ((unmarried)) dependent under the age of ((twenty-five)) twenty-six.
     (2) Any group health care service plan contract that provides coverage for a participating member's dependent must offer each participating member the option of covering any ((unmarried)) dependent under the age of ((twenty-five)) twenty-six.

Sec. 7   RCW 48.44.380 and 1984 c 190 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A health care service contractor shall not require proof of insurability as a condition for issuance of the conversion contract.
     (2) A conversion contract may not contain an exclusion for preexisting conditions ((except)) for any applicant who is under age nineteen. For policies issued to those age nineteen and older, an exclusion for a preexisting condition is permitted only to the extent that a waiting period for a preexisting condition has not been satisfied under the group contract.
     (3) A health care service contractor must offer at least three contract benefit plans that comply with the following:
     (a) A major medical plan with a five thousand dollar deductible ((and a lifetime benefit maximum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars)) per person;
     (b) A comprehensive medical plan with a five hundred dollar deductible ((and a lifetime benefit maximum of five hundred thousand dollars)) per person; and
     (c) A basic medical plan with a one thousand dollar deductible ((and a lifetime maximum of seventy-five thousand dollars)) per person.
     (4) The insurance commissioner may revise the ((deductibles and lifetime benefit)) deductible amounts in subsection (3) of this section from time to time to reflect changing health care costs.
     (5) The insurance commissioner shall adopt rules to establish minimum benefit standards for conversion contracts.
     (6) The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish specific standards for conversion contract provisions. These rules may include but are not limited to:
     (a) Terms of renewability;
     (b) Nonduplication of coverage;
     (c) Benefit limitations, exceptions, and reductions; and
     (d) Definitions of terms.

Sec. 8   RCW 48.46.325 and 2007 c 259 s 22 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Any individual health maintenance agreement that provides coverage for a subscriber's dependent must offer the option of covering any ((unmarried)) dependent under the age of ((twenty-five)) twenty-six.
     (2) Any group health maintenance agreement that provides coverage for a participating member's dependent must offer each participating member the option of covering any ((unmarried)) dependent under the age of ((twenty-five)) twenty-six.

Sec. 9   RCW 48.46.460 and 1984 c 190 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A health maintenance organization must offer a conversion agreement for comprehensive health care services and shall not require proof of insurability as a condition for issuance of the conversion agreement.
     (2) A conversion agreement may not contain an exclusion for preexisting conditions ((except)) for an applicant who is under age nineteen. For policies issued to those age nineteen and older, an exclusion for a preexisting condition is permitted only to the extent that a waiting period for a preexisting condition has not been satisfied under the group agreement.
     (3) A conversion agreement need not provide benefits identical to those provided under the group agreement. The conversion agreement may contain provisions requiring the person covered by the conversion agreement to pay reasonable deductibles and copayments, except for preventive service benefits as defined in 45 C.F.R. 147.130 (2010), implementing sections 2701 through 2763, 2791, and 2792 of the public health service act (42 U.S.C. 300gg through 300gg-63, 300gg-91, and 300gg-92), as amended.
     (4) The insurance commissioner shall adopt rules to establish minimum benefit standards for conversion agreements.
     (5) The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish specific standards for conversion agreement provisions. These rules may include but are not limited to:
     (a) Terms of renewability;
     (b) Nonduplication of coverage;
     (c) Benefit limitations, exceptions, and reductions; and
     (d) Definitions of terms.

Sec. 10   RCW 48.20.025 and 2008 c 303 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Claims" means the cost to the insurer of health care services, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, provided to a policyholder or paid to or on behalf of the policyholder in accordance with the terms of a health benefit plan, as defined in RCW 48.43.005. This includes capitation payments or other similar payments made to providers for the purpose of paying for health care services for a policyholder.
     (b) "Claims reserves" means: (i) The liability for claims which have been reported but not paid; (ii) the liability for claims which have not been reported but which may reasonably be expected; (iii) active life reserves; and (iv) additional claims reserves whether for a specific liability purpose or not.
     (c) "Declination rate" for an insurer means the percentage of the total number of applicants for individual health benefit plans received by that insurer in the aggregate in the applicable year which are not accepted for enrollment by that insurer based on the results of the standard health questionnaire administered pursuant to RCW 48.43.018(2)(a).
     (d) "Earned premiums" means premiums, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, plus any rate credits or recoupments less any refunds, for the applicable period, whether received before, during, or after the applicable period.
     (e) "Incurred claims expense" means claims paid during the applicable period plus any increase, or less any decrease, in the claims reserves.
     (f) "Loss ratio" means incurred claims expense as a percentage of earned premiums.
     (g) "Reserves" means: (i) Active life reserves; and (ii) additional reserves whether for a specific liability purpose or not.
     (2) An insurer must file supporting documentation of its method of determining the rates charged for its individual health benefit plans. At a minimum, the insurer must provide the following supporting documentation:
     (a) A description of the insurer's rate-making methodology;
     (b) An actuarially determined estimate of incurred claims which includes the experience data, assumptions, and justifications of the insurer's projection;
     (c) The percentage of premium attributable in aggregate for nonclaims expenses used to determine the adjusted community rates charged; and
     (d) A certification by a member of the American academy of actuaries, or other person approved by the commissioner, that the adjusted community rate charged can be reasonably expected to result in a loss ratio that meets or exceeds the loss ratio standard of seventy-four percent, minus the premium tax rate applicable to the insurer's individual health benefit plans under RCW 48.14.020.
     (((3) By the last day of May each year any insurer issuing or renewing individual health benefit plans in this state during the preceding calendar year shall file for review by the commissioner supporting documentation of its actual loss ratio and its actual declination rate for its individual health benefit plans offered or renewed in the state in aggregate for the preceding calendar year. The filing shall include aggregate earned premiums, aggregate incurred claims, and a certification by a member of the American academy of actuaries, or other person approved by the commissioner, that the actual loss ratio has been calculated in accordance with accepted actuarial principles.
     (a) At the expiration of a thirty-day period beginning with the date the filing is received by the commissioner, the filing shall be deemed approved unless prior thereto the commissioner contests the calculation of the actual loss ratio.
     (b) If the commissioner contests the calculation of the actual loss ratio, the commissioner shall state in writing the grounds for contesting the calculation to the insurer.
     (c) Any dispute regarding the calculation of the actual loss ratio shall, upon written demand of either the commissioner or the insurer, be submitted to hearing under chapters 48.04 and 34.05 RCW.
     (4) If the actual loss ratio for the preceding calendar year is less than the loss ratio established in subsection (5) of this section, a remittance is due and the following shall apply:
     (a) The insurer shall calculate a percentage of premium to be remitted to the Washington state health insurance pool by subtracting the actual loss ratio for the preceding year from the loss ratio established in subsection (5) of this section.
     (b) The remittance to the Washington state health insurance pool is the percentage calculated in (a) of this subsection, multiplied by the premium earned from each enrollee in the previous calendar year. Interest shall be added to the remittance due at a five percent annual rate calculated from the end of the calendar year for which the remittance is due to the date the remittance is made.
     (c) All remittances shall be aggregated and such amounts shall be remitted to the Washington state high risk pool to be used as directed by the pool board of directors.
     (d) Any remittance required to be issued under this section shall be issued within thirty days after the actual loss ratio is deemed approved under subsection (3)(a) of this section or the determination by an administrative law judge under subsection (3)(c) of this section.
     (5) The loss ratio applicable to this section shall be the percentage set forth in the following schedule that correlates to the insurer's actual declination rate in the preceding year, minus the premium tax rate applicable to the insurer's individual health benefit plans under RCW 48.14.020.

Sec. 11   RCW 48.44.017 and 2008 c 303 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Claims" means the cost to the health care service contractor of health care services, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, provided to a contract holder or paid to or on behalf of a contract holder in accordance with the terms of a health benefit plan, as defined in RCW 48.43.005. This includes capitation payments or other similar payments made to providers for the purpose of paying for health care services for an enrollee.
     (b) "Claims reserves" means: (i) The liability for claims which have been reported but not paid; (ii) the liability for claims which have not been reported but which may reasonably be expected; (iii) active life reserves; and (iv) additional claims reserves whether for a specific liability purpose or not.
     (c) "Declination rate" for a health care service contractor means the percentage of the total number of applicants for individual health benefit plans received by that health care service contractor in the aggregate in the applicable year which are not accepted for enrollment by that health care service contractor based on the results of the standard health questionnaire administered pursuant to RCW 48.43.018(2)(a).
     (d) "Earned premiums" means premiums, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, plus any rate credits or recoupments less any refunds, for the applicable period, whether received before, during, or after the applicable period.
     (e) "Incurred claims expense" means claims paid during the applicable period plus any increase, or less any decrease, in the claims reserves.
     (f) "Loss ratio" means incurred claims expense as a percentage of earned premiums.
     (g) "Reserves" means: (i) Active life reserves; and (ii) additional reserves whether for a specific liability purpose or not.
     (2) A health care service contractor must file supporting documentation of its method of determining the rates charged for its individual contracts. At a minimum, the health care service contractor must provide the following supporting documentation:
     (a) A description of the health care service contractor's rate-making methodology;
     (b) An actuarially determined estimate of incurred claims which includes the experience data, assumptions, and justifications of the health care service contractor's projection;
     (c) The percentage of premium attributable in aggregate for nonclaims expenses used to determine the adjusted community rates charged; and
     (d) A certification by a member of the American academy of actuaries, or other person approved by the commissioner, that the adjusted community rate charged can be reasonably expected to result in a loss ratio that meets or exceeds the loss ratio standard of seventy-four percent, minus the premium tax rate applicable to the carrier's individual health benefit plans under RCW 48.14.0201.
     (((3) By the last day of May each year any health care service contractor issuing or renewing individual health benefit plans in this state during the preceding calendar year shall file for review by the commissioner supporting documentation of its actual loss ratio and its actual declination rate for its individual health benefit plans offered or renewed in this state in aggregate for the preceding calendar year. The filing shall include aggregate earned premiums, aggregate incurred claims, and a certification by a member of the American academy of actuaries, or other person approved by the commissioner, that the actual loss ratio has been calculated in accordance with accepted actuarial principles.
     (a) At the expiration of a thirty-day period beginning with the date the filing is received by the commissioner, the filing shall be deemed approved unless prior thereto the commissioner contests the calculation of the actual loss ratio.
     (b) If the commissioner contests the calculation of the actual loss ratio, the commissioner shall state in writing the grounds for contesting the calculation to the health care service contractor.
     (c) Any dispute regarding the calculation of the actual loss ratio shall upon written demand of either the commissioner or the health care service contractor be submitted to hearing under chapters 48.04 and 34.05 RCW.
     (4) If the actual loss ratio for the preceding calendar year is less than the loss ratio standard established in subsection (5) of this section, a remittance is due and the following shall apply:
     (a) The health care service contractor shall calculate a percentage of premium to be remitted to the Washington state health insurance pool by subtracting the actual loss ratio for the preceding year from the loss ratio established in subsection (5) of this section.
     (b) The remittance to the Washington state health insurance pool is the percentage calculated in (a) of this subsection, multiplied by the premium earned from each enrollee in the previous calendar year. Interest shall be added to the remittance due at a five percent annual rate calculated from the end of the calendar year for which the remittance is due to the date the remittance is made.
     (c) All remittances shall be aggregated and such amounts shall be remitted to the Washington state high risk pool to be used as directed by the pool board of directors.
     (d) Any remittance required to be issued under this section shall be issued within thirty days after the actual loss ratio is deemed approved under subsection (3)(a) of this section or the determination by an administrative law judge under subsection (3)(c) of this section.
     (5) The loss ratio applicable to this section shall be the percentage set forth in the following schedule that correlates to the health care service contractor's actual declination rate in the preceding year, minus the premium tax rate applicable to the health care service contractor's individual health benefit plans under RCW 48.14.0201.

Sec. 12   RCW 48.46.062 and 2008 c 303 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (a) "Claims" means the cost to the health maintenance organization of health care services, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, provided to an enrollee or paid to or on behalf of the enrollee in accordance with the terms of a health benefit plan, as defined in RCW 48.43.005. This includes capitation payments or other similar payments made to providers for the purpose of paying for health care services for an enrollee.
     (b) "Claims reserves" means: (i) The liability for claims which have been reported but not paid; (ii) the liability for claims which have not been reported but which may reasonably be expected; (iii) active life reserves; and (iv) additional claims reserves whether for a specific liability purpose or not.
     (c) "Declination rate" for a health maintenance organization means the percentage of the total number of applicants for individual health benefit plans received by that health maintenance organization in the aggregate in the applicable year which are not accepted for enrollment by that health maintenance organization based on the results of the standard health questionnaire administered pursuant to RCW 48.43.018(2)(a).
     (d) "Earned premiums" means premiums, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, plus any rate credits or recoupments less any refunds, for the applicable period, whether received before, during, or after the applicable period.
     (e) "Incurred claims expense" means claims paid during the applicable period plus any increase, or less any decrease, in the claims reserves.
     (f) "Loss ratio" means incurred claims expense as a percentage of earned premiums.
     (g) "Reserves" means: (i) Active life reserves; and (ii) additional reserves whether for a specific liability purpose or not.
     (2) A health maintenance organization must file supporting documentation of its method of determining the rates charged for its individual agreements. At a minimum, the health maintenance organization must provide the following supporting documentation:
     (a) A description of the health maintenance organization's rate-making methodology;
     (b) An actuarially determined estimate of incurred claims which includes the experience data, assumptions, and justifications of the health maintenance organization's projection;
     (c) The percentage of premium attributable in aggregate for nonclaims expenses used to determine the adjusted community rates charged; and
     (d) A certification by a member of the American academy of actuaries, or other person approved by the commissioner, that the adjusted community rate charged can be reasonably expected to result in a loss ratio that meets or exceeds the loss ratio standard of seventy-four percent, minus the premium tax rate applicable to the carrier's individual health benefit plans under RCW 48.14.0201.
     (((3) By the last day of May each year any health maintenance organization issuing or renewing individual health benefit plans in this state during the preceding calendar year shall file for review by the commissioner supporting documentation of its actual loss ratio and its actual declination rate for its individual health benefit plans offered or renewed in the state in aggregate for the preceding calendar year. The filing shall include aggregate earned premiums, aggregate incurred claims, and a certification by a member of the American academy of actuaries, or other person approved by the commissioner, that the actual loss ratio has been calculated in accordance with accepted actuarial principles.
     (a) At the expiration of a thirty-day period beginning with the date the filing is received by the commissioner, the filing shall be deemed approved unless prior thereto the commissioner contests the calculation of the actual loss ratio.
     (b) If the commissioner contests the calculation of the actual loss ratio, the commissioner shall state in writing the grounds for contesting the calculation to the health maintenance organization.
     (c) Any dispute regarding the calculation of the actual loss ratio shall, upon written demand of either the commissioner or the health maintenance organization, be submitted to hearing under chapters 48.04 and 34.05 RCW.
     (4) If the actual loss ratio for the preceding calendar year is less than the loss ratio standard established in subsection (5) of this section, a remittance is due and the following shall apply:
     (a) The health maintenance organization shall calculate a percentage of premium to be remitted to the Washington state health insurance pool by subtracting the actual loss ratio for the preceding year from the loss ratio established in subsection (5) of this section.
     (b) The remittance to the Washington state health insurance pool is the percentage calculated in (a) of this subsection, multiplied by the premium earned from each enrollee in the previous calendar year. Interest shall be added to the remittance due at a five percent annual rate calculated from the end of the calendar year for which the remittance is due to the date the remittance is made.
     (c) All remittances shall be aggregated and such amounts shall be remitted to the Washington state high risk pool to be used as directed by the pool board of directors.
     (d) Any remittance required to be issued under this section shall be issued within thirty days after the actual loss ratio is deemed approved under subsection (3)(a) of this section or the determination by an administrative law judge under subsection (3)(c) of this section.
     (5) The loss ratio applicable to this section shall be the percentage set forth in the following schedule that correlates to the health maintenance organization's actual declination rate in the preceding year, minus the premium tax rate applicable to the health maintenance organization's individual health benefit plans under RCW 48.14.0201.

Sec. 13   RCW 48.41.060 and 2009 c 555 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall have the general powers and authority granted under the laws of this state to insurance companies, health care service contractors, and health maintenance organizations, licensed or registered to offer or provide the kinds of health coverage defined under this title. In addition thereto, the board shall:
     (a) Designate or establish the standard health questionnaire to be used under RCW 48.41.100 and 48.43.018, including the form and content of the standard health questionnaire and the method of its application. The questionnaire must provide for an objective evaluation of an individual's health status by assigning a discreet measure, such as a system of point scoring to each individual. The questionnaire must not contain any questions related to pregnancy, and pregnancy shall not be a basis for coverage by the pool. The questionnaire shall be designed such that it is reasonably expected to identify the eight percent of persons who are the most costly to treat who are under individual coverage in health benefit plans, as defined in RCW 48.43.005, in Washington state or are covered by the pool, if applied to all such persons;
     (b) Obtain from a member of the American academy of actuaries, who is independent of the board, a certification that the standard health questionnaire meets the requirements of (a) of this subsection;
     (c) Approve the standard health questionnaire and any modifications needed to comply with this chapter. The standard health questionnaire shall be submitted to an actuary for certification, modified as necessary, and approved at least every thirty-six months unless at the time when certification is required the pool will be discontinued before the end of the succeeding thirty-six month period. The designation and approval of the standard health questionnaire by the board shall not be subject to review and approval by the commissioner. The standard health questionnaire or any modification thereto shall not be used until ninety days after public notice of the approval of the questionnaire or any modification thereto, except that the initial standard health questionnaire approved for use by the board after March 23, 2000, may be used immediately following public notice of such approval;
     (d) Establish appropriate rates, rate schedules, rate adjustments, expense allowances, claim reserve formulas and any other actuarial functions appropriate to the operation of the pool. Rates shall not be unreasonable in relation to the coverage provided, the risk experience, and expenses of providing the coverage. Rates and rate schedules may be adjusted for appropriate risk factors such as age and area variation in claim costs and shall take into consideration appropriate risk factors in accordance with established actuarial underwriting practices consistent with Washington state individual plan rating requirements under RCW 48.44.022 and 48.46.064;
     (e)(i) Assess members of the pool in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and make advance interim assessments as may be reasonable and necessary for the organizational or interim operating expenses. Any interim assessments will be credited as offsets against any regular assessments due following the close of the year.
     (ii) Self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements are subject to assessment under this subsection only in the event that assessments are not preempted by the employee retirement income security act of 1974, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq. The arrangements and the commissioner shall initially request an advisory opinion from the United States department of labor or obtain a declaratory ruling from a federal court on the legality of imposing assessments on these arrangements before imposing the assessment. Once the legality of the assessments has been determined, the multiple employer welfare arrangement certified by the insurance commissioner must begin payment of these assessments.
     (iii) If there has not been a final determination of the legality of these assessments, then beginning on the earlier of (A) the date the fourth multiple employer welfare arrangement has been certified by the insurance commissioner, or (B) April 1, 2006, the arrangement shall deposit the assessments imposed by this subsection into an interest bearing escrow account maintained by the arrangement. Upon a final determination that the assessments are not preempted by the employee retirement income security act of 1974, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq., all funds in the interest bearing escrow account shall be transferred to the board;
     (f) Issue policies of health coverage in accordance with the requirements of this chapter;
     (g) Establish procedures for the administration of the premium discount provided under RCW 48.41.200(3)(a)(iii);
     (h) Contract with the Washington state health care authority for the administration of the premium discounts provided under RCW 48.41.200(3)(a) (i) and (ii);
     (i) Set a reasonable fee to be paid to an insurance producer licensed in Washington state for submitting an acceptable application for enrollment in the pool; and
     (j) Provide certification to the commissioner when assessments will exceed the threshold level established in RCW 48.41.037.
     (2) In addition thereto, the board may:
     (a) Enter into contracts as are necessary or proper to carry out the provisions and purposes of this chapter including the authority, with the approval of the commissioner, to enter into contracts with similar pools of other states for the joint performance of common administrative functions, or with persons or other organizations for the performance of administrative functions;
     (b) Sue or be sued, including taking any legal action as necessary to avoid the payment of improper claims against the pool or the coverage provided by or through the pool;
     (c) Appoint appropriate legal, actuarial, and other committees as necessary to provide technical assistance in the operation of the pool, policy, and other contract design, and any other function within the authority of the pool; and
     (d) Conduct periodic audits to assure the general accuracy of the financial data submitted to the pool, and the board shall cause the pool to have an annual audit of its operations by an independent certified public accountant.
     (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or authorize the adoption of rules under chapter 34.05 RCW.

Sec. 14   RCW 48.41.080 and 2000 c 79 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     The board shall select an administrator through a competitive bidding process to administer the pool.
     (1) The board shall evaluate bids based upon criteria established by the board, which shall include:
     (a) The administrator's proven ability to handle health coverage;
     (b) The efficiency of the administrator's claim-paying procedures;
     (c) An estimate of the total charges for administering the plan; and
     (d) The administrator's ability to administer the pool in a cost-effective manner.
     (2) The administrator shall serve for a period of three years subject to removal for cause. At least six months prior to the expiration of each three-year period of service by the administrator, the board shall invite all interested parties, including the current administrator, to submit bids to serve as the administrator for the succeeding three-year period. Selection of the administrator for this succeeding period shall be made at least three months prior to the end of the current three-year period, unless at the time required for submission of bids pursuant to this subsection to the pool will be discontinued before the end of the succeeding thirty-six month period.
     (3) The administrator shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the board including:
     (a) Administering eligibility and administrative claim payment functions relating to the pool;
     (b) Establishing a premium billing procedure for collection of premiums from covered persons. Billings shall be made on a periodic basis as determined by the board, which shall not be more frequent than a monthly billing;
     (c) Performing all necessary functions to assure timely payment of benefits to covered persons under the pool including:
     (i) Making available information relating to the proper manner of submitting a claim for benefits to the pool, and distributing forms upon which submission shall be made;
     (ii) Taking steps necessary to offer and administer managed care benefit plans; and
     (iii) Evaluating the eligibility of each claim for payment by the pool;
     (d) Submission of regular reports to the board regarding the operation of the pool. The frequency, content, and form of the report shall be as determined by the board;
     (e) Following the close of each accounting year, determination of net paid and earned premiums, the expense of administration, and the paid and incurred losses for the year and reporting this information to the board and the commissioner on a form as prescribed by the commissioner.
     (4) The administrator shall be paid as provided in the contract between the board and the administrator for its expenses incurred in the performance of its services.

Sec. 15   RCW 48.41.100 and 2009 c 555 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1)(a) The following persons who are residents of this state are eligible for pool coverage:
     (i) Any person who provides evidence of a carrier's decision not to accept him or her for enrollment in an individual health benefit plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 based upon, and within ninety days of the receipt of, the results of the standard health questionnaire designated by the board and administered by health carriers under RCW 48.43.018;
     (ii) Any person who continues to be eligible for pool coverage based upon the results of the standard health questionnaire designated by the board and administered by the pool administrator pursuant to subsection (3) of this section;
     (iii) Any person who resides in a county of the state where no carrier or insurer eligible under chapter 48.15 RCW offers to the public an individual health benefit plan other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 at the time of application to the pool, and who makes direct application to the pool;
     (iv) Any person becoming eligible for medicare before August 1, 2009, who provides evidence of (A) a rejection for medical reasons, (B) a requirement of restrictive riders, (C) an up-rated premium, (D) a preexisting conditions limitation, or (E) lack of access to or for a comprehensive medicare supplemental insurance policy under chapter 48.66 RCW, the effect of any of which is to substantially reduce coverage from that received by a person considered a standard risk by at least one member within six months of the date of application; and
     (v) Any person becoming eligible for medicare on or after August 1, 2009, who does not have access to a reasonable choice of comprehensive medicare part C plans, as defined in (b) of this subsection, and who provides evidence of (A) a rejection for medical reasons, (B) a requirement of restrictive riders, (C) an up-rated premium, (D) a preexisting conditions limitation, or (E) lack of access to or for a comprehensive medicare supplemental insurance policy under chapter 48.66 RCW, the effect of any of which is to substantially reduce coverage from that received by a person considered a standard risk by at least one member within six months of the date of application.
     (b) For purposes of (a)(v) of this subsection (1), a person does not have access to a reasonable choice of plans unless the person has a choice of health maintenance organization or preferred provider organization medicare part C plans offered by at least three different carriers that have had provider networks in the person's county of residence for at least five years. The plan options must include coverage at least as comprehensive as a plan F medicare supplement plan combined with medicare parts A and B. The plan options must also provide access to adequate and stable provider networks that make up-to-date provider directories easily accessible on the carrier web site, and will provide them in hard copy, if requested. In addition, if no health maintenance organization or preferred provider organization plan includes the health care provider with whom the person has an established care relationship and from whom he or she has received treatment within the past twelve months, the person does not have reasonable access.
     (2) The following persons are not eligible for coverage by the pool:
     (a) Any person having terminated coverage in the pool unless (i) twelve months have lapsed since termination, or (ii) that person can show continuous other coverage which has been involuntarily terminated for any reason other than nonpayment of premiums. However, these exclusions do not apply to eligible individuals as defined in section 2741(b) of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-41(b));
     (b) ((Any person on whose behalf the pool has paid out two million dollars in benefits;
     (c))) Inmates of public institutions and those persons who become eligible for medical assistance after June 30, 2008, as defined in RCW 74.09.010. However, these exclusions do not apply to eligible individuals as defined in section 2741(b) of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-41(b));
     (((d))) (c) Any person who resides in a county of the state where any carrier or insurer regulated under chapter 48.15 RCW offers to the public an individual health benefit plan other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 at the time of application to the pool and who does not qualify for pool coverage based upon the results of the standard health questionnaire, or pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(iv) of this section.
     (3) When a carrier or insurer regulated under chapter 48.15 RCW begins to offer an individual health benefit plan in a county where no carrier had been offering an individual health benefit plan:
     (a) If the health benefit plan offered is other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005, any person enrolled in a pool plan pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(iii) of this section in that county shall no longer be eligible for coverage under that plan pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(iii) of this section, but may continue to be eligible for pool coverage based upon the results of the standard health questionnaire designated by the board and administered by the pool administrator. The pool administrator shall offer to administer the questionnaire to each person no longer eligible for coverage under subsection (1)(a)(iii) of this section within thirty days of determining that he or she is no longer eligible;
     (b) Losing eligibility for pool coverage under this subsection (3) does not affect a person's eligibility for pool coverage under subsection (1)(a)(i), (ii), or (iv) of this section; and
     (c) The pool administrator shall provide written notice to any person who is no longer eligible for coverage under a pool plan under this subsection (3) within thirty days of the administrator's determination that the person is no longer eligible. The notice shall: (i) Indicate that coverage under the plan will cease ninety days from the date that the notice is dated; (ii) describe any other coverage options, either in or outside of the pool, available to the person; (iii) describe the procedures for the administration of the standard health questionnaire to determine the person's continued eligibility for coverage under subsection (1)(a)(ii) of this section; and (iv) describe the enrollment process for the available options outside of the pool.
     (4) The board shall ensure that an independent analysis of the eligibility standards for the pool coverage is conducted, including examining the eight percent eligibility threshold, eligibility for medicaid enrollees and other publicly sponsored enrollees, and the impacts on the pool and the state budget. The board shall report the findings to the legislature by December 1, 2007.

Sec. 16   RCW 48.41.140 and 2000 c 79 s 16 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Coverage shall provide that health insurance benefits are applicable to children of the person in whose name the policy is issued including adopted and newly born natural children. Coverage shall also include necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities. If payment of a specific premium is required to provide coverage for the child, the policy may require that notification of the birth or adoption of a child and payment of the required premium must be furnished to the pool within thirty-one days after the date of birth or adoption in order to have the coverage continued beyond the thirty-one day period. For purposes of this subsection, a child is deemed to be adopted, and benefits are payable, when the child is physically placed for purposes of adoption under the laws of this state with the person in whose name the policy is issued; and, when the person in whose name the policy is issued assumes financial responsibility for the medical expenses of the child. For purposes of this subsection, "newly born" means, and benefits are payable, from the moment of birth.
     (2) A pool policy shall provide that coverage of a dependent, ((unmarried)) person shall terminate when the person becomes ((nineteen)) twenty-six years of age: PROVIDED, That coverage of such person shall not terminate at age ((nineteen)) twenty-six while he or she is and continues to be both (a) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of developmental disability or physical handicap and (b) chiefly dependent upon the person in whose name the policy is issued for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the pool by the policyholder within thirty-one days of the dependent's attainment of age ((nineteen)) twenty-six and subsequently as may be required by the pool but not more frequently than annually after the two-year period following the dependent's attainment of age ((nineteen)) twenty-six.

Sec. 17   RCW 48.21.157 and 2007 c 259 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any group disability insurance contract or blanket disability insurance contract that provides coverage for a participating member's dependent must offer each participating member the option of covering any ((unmarried)) dependent under the age of ((twenty-five)) twenty-six.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 18   A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:
     Health care sharing ministries are not health carriers as defined in RCW 48.43.005 or insurers as defined in RCW 48.01.050. For purposes of this section, "health care sharing ministry" has the same meaning as in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 5000A.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 19   Sections 10 through 12 of this act take effect January 1, 2012.