H-4304              _______________________________________________

                                          SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL NO. 1986

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By House Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance (originally sponsored by Representatives Isaacson, Lux, Hankins, Winsley, May, Lewis, Jacobsen and Schoon)

Read first time 1/31/86 and passed to Committee on Rules.

AN ACT Relating to insurance coverage for adopted children; adding a new section to chapter 48.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.01 RCW to read as follows:

          A child placed with an insured for purposes of adoption shall be considered a dependent child of the insured for purposes of this title.  A placement for purposes of adoption begins with the earlier of:  (1) The issuance of a temporary order pursuant to RCW 26.33.090(1) granting custody to the insured; (2) the entry of an order of relinquishment pursuant to RCW 26.33.090; or (3) the placement of the child by an agency with the prospective adoptive parents pursuant to RCW 26.33.090(5).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Any disability insurance contract providing hospital and medical expenses and health care services, delivered or issued for delivery in this state, which provides coverage for dependent children of the insured, shall provide the same coverage for adoptive children placed with the insured, as defined in section 1 of this act.

          (2) If payment of an additional premium is required to provide coverage for a child, the contract may require that notification of placement of a child for adoption and payment of the required premium must be furnished to the insurer.  The notification period shall be no less than sixty days from the date of placement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Any group disability insurance contract, except a blanket disability insurance contract, providing hospital and medical expenses and health care services, delivered or issued for delivery in this state, which provides coverage for dependent children of the insured, shall provide the same coverage for adoptive children placed with the insured, as defined in section 1 of this act.

          (2) If payment of an additional premium is required to provide coverage for a child, the contract may require that notification of placement of a child for adoption and payment of the required premium must be furnished to the insurer.  The notification period shall be no less than sixty days from the date of placement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:

          (1)  Any health care service plan contract under this chapter delivered or issued for delivery in this state, which provides coverage for dependent children of the insured, shall provide the same coverage for adoptive children placed with the insured, as defined in section 1 of this act.

          (2) If payment of an additional premium is required to provide coverage for a child, the contract may require that notification of placement of a child for adoption and payment of the required premium must be furnished to the health services contractor.  The notification period shall be no less than sixty days from the date of placement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Any health maintenance agreement under this chapter which provides coverage for dependent children of the enrolled participant shall provide the same coverage for adoptive children of the enrolled participant placed with the enrolled participant, as defined in section 1 of this act.

          (2) If payment of an additional premium is required to provide coverage for a child, the agreement may require that notification of placement of a child for adoption and payment of the required premium must be furnished to the health maintenance organization.  The notification period shall be no less than sixty days from the date of placement.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     This act shall take effect July 1, 1986, and shall apply to all contracts or agreements issued, renewed, or delivered on or after July 1, 1986.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.