H-4967.1  _______________________________________________

                 SECOND SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2330

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Backlund, Hymes, Dyer, Goldsmith, Crouse, Thompson, Sherstad, D. Sommers, McMahan, D. Schmidt, L. Thomas, Hargrove and McMorris)

Read first time 02/05/96.

Extending the benefit waiting period for preexisting conditions.

    AN ACT Relating to extending the benefit waiting period for preexisting conditions; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  To the extent that funds are made available for this purpose, the Washington health care policy board, created by chapter 43.73 RCW, shall study current health insurance code requirements for guaranteed issue of health plans and limitations on the use of preexisting condition exclusions and shall make recommendations, as necessary, regarding legislation that would reduce adverse selection and similar insurance market problems without significantly limiting consumer access to health plans.  Consideration should be given to longer preexisting condition waiting periods, open enrollment periods, and limits on guaranteed issue when consumers voluntarily terminate health plan coverage.  The board shall submit its recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 15, 1996.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 1996, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.

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