WSR 16-11-063

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Insurance Commissioner Matter No. R 2016-13—Filed May 13, 2016, 2:58 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Special enrollment rules: Health benefit exchange request.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.02.060, 48.18.120(2), 48.20.450, 48.44.050, and 48.46.200.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The Washington health benefit exchange (exchange) has asked the office of insurance commissioner to change the date that individual health plans go into effect when consumers use special enrollment rights to apply for exchange plans. The change will bring the Washington rule into alignment with 45 C.F.R. 155.420.

As a result of the change, consumers who use special enrollment rights to apply for exchange plans will need to select their plans by the fifteenth day of the month for coverage to go into effect the first day of the next month. Under WAC 284-43-1140, the deadline is currently the twentieth day of the month.

Process for Developing New Rule: Submit written comments by July 1, 2016, to 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 Bianca Stoner, P.O. Box 40260, Olympia, WA 98504-0260, rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.

May 13, 2016

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner