S-3933               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4767

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senator Benitz

Read first time 1/22/86 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions.

AN ACT Relating to insurance coverage for adopted children; 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; and adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) No disability contract providing hospital or medical expenses or health care services may be issued or renewed after January 1, 1987, unless the contract covers adopted children of the insured or enrollee on the same basis as other dependents who are added by the insured or enrollee, subject to age, health, established underwriting guidelines, and any other applicable contract provisions.

          (2) The coverage required by this section is governed by existing dependent coverage provisions of the contract.  Eligibility for coverage begins subject to applicable contract provisions, upon the physical placement of the child in the home of the insured enrollee or spouse.  The obligation for coverage shall terminate when the first of any of the following events occur:

          (a) Termination of physical placement in the home of the insured enrollee or spouse; or

          (b) Termination of the adoption proceedings; or

          (c) Termination of financial responsibility for the child by the insured enrollee or spouse.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) No group disability contract providing hospital or medical expenses or health care services may be issued or renewed after January 1, 1987, unless the contract covers adopted children of the insured or enrollee on the same basis as other dependents who are added by the insured or enrollee, subject to age, health, established underwriting guidelines, or any other applicable contract provisions.

          (2) The coverage required by this section shall be governed by existing dependent coverage provisions of the contract.  Eligibility for coverage begins, subject to applicable contract provisions, upon the physical placement of the child in the home of the insured enrollee or spouse.  The obligation for coverage shall terminate when the first of any of the following events occur:

          (a) Termination of physical placement in the home of the insured enrollee or spouse; or

          (b) Termination of the adoption proceedings; or

          (c) Termination of financial responsibility for the child by the insured enrollee or spouse.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) No health care service plan contract providing hospital or medical expenses or health care services may be issued or renewed after January 1, 1987, unless the contract covers adopted children of the subscriber or enrollee on the same basis as other dependents who are added by the subscriber or enrollee, subject to age, health, established underwriting guidelines, and any other applicable contract provisions.

          (2) The coverage required by this section is governed by existing dependent coverage provisions of the contract.  Eligibility for coverage begins subject to applicable contract or policy provisions, upon the physical placement of the child in the home of the subscriber, enrollee, or spouse.  The obligation for coverage shall terminate when the first of any of the following events occur:

          (a) Termination of physical placement in the home of the subscriber, enrollee, or spouse; or

          (b) Termination of the adoption proceedings; or

          (c) Termination of financial responsibility for the child by the subscriber, enrollee, or spouse.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) No health maintenance agreement providing hospital or medical expenses or health care services may be issued or renewed after January 1, 1987, unless the contract covers adopted children of the member, subscriber, or enrollee on the same basis as other dependents who are added by the member, subscriber, or enrollee, subject to age, health, established underwriting guidelines and any other applicable contract provisions.

          (2) The coverage required by this section is governed by existing dependent coverage provisions of the contract.  Eligibility for coverage begins subject to applicable contract provisions, upon the physical placement of the child in the home of the member, subscriber, enrollee, or spouse.  The obligation for coverage shall terminate when the first of any of the following events occur:

          (a) Termination of physical placement in the home of the member, subscriber, enrollee, or spouse; or

          (b) Termination of the adoption proceedings; or

          (c) Termination of financial responsibility for the child by the member, subscriber, enrollee, or spouse.