HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1375

As Reported by House Committee On:

Health Care

Title: An act relating to basic health plan eligibility of persons studying in the United States under temporary visas.

Brief Description: Eliminating basic health plan eligibility of persons holding student visas.

Sponsors: Representatives Dickerson, Sommers, Cody, Wallace, Campbell and McMahan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Health Care: 2/20/03, 2/27/03 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Pflug, Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Benson, Campbell, Clibborn, Darneille, Edwards, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

Currently, statutory eligibility for the Basic Health Plan includes people who are not eligible for Medicare, not confined in government-operated facilities, live in an area of the state served by a participating managed care program, have household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and agree to make periodic payments to the plan. Eligibility does not require that an enrollee be a United States citizen.

Summary of Bill:

Full-time students on a temporary visa to study in the United States are not eligible to enroll in the Basic Health Plan.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Foreign students studying in Washington should not be using the Basic Health Plan. They should purchase insurance through the private market.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Representative Dickerson, prime sponsor.