WSR 15-12-107

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Insurance Commissioner Matter No. R 2015-04—Filed June 2, 2015, 4:42 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Adjusting rate and form filing procedures for life and disability insurers to comply with SSB 5023.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: SSB 5023 (chapter 19, Laws of 2015, effective July 24, 2015); RCW 48.02.060.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: SSB 5023, which just passed the 2015 legislature and will become effective on July 24, 2015, is intended to "create regulatory uniformity in the filing requirements for (large) group health benefit plans … as well as stand-alone dental plan and stand-alone vision plan rates and forms …." This new law amends RCW 48.18.100 and 48.19.010 and adds a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW. The purpose of this rule process is to align current WAC sections with the new law and its intent.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Submit written comments by July 7, 2015, to Bianca Stoner, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-3109.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.

June 2, 2015

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner