FINAL BILL REPORT

ESHB 2354

C 83 L 04

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning rates for a medicare supplement insurance policy.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Kristiansen, McMahan, Newhouse, Roach, McDonald, Sullivan, Ahern, G. Simpson, Pearson, Morrell, Bailey and Benson).

House Committee on Health Care

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Background:

Health carriers that sell Medicare supplement insurance policies have given consumers premium rate discounts based on automatic deposit of premiums. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner recently informed health carriers that they must stop this practice because it violates a statute that requires all premiums for Medicare supplement insurance policies to be equal for all policy holders.

Summary:

Health carriers that issue Medicare supplement insurance policies are authorized to provide premium rate discounts based on spousal coverage and the method and frequency of payment, including automatic deposit of premiums.

Votes on Final Passage:

House 95  0

Senate 44  0    (Senate amended)

House 94  0    (House concurred)

Effective: March 22, 2004