Title: An act relating to the public employees' benefits board offering a tricare supplemental insurance policy to employees who are eligible for this policy, but not eligible for medicare parts A and B.

Brief Description: Offering a tricare supplemental insurance policy to certain public employees.

Sponsors: By Senators Keiser, Franklin, Brandland, Kastama, Johnson, Kohl-Welles and Kline.

Brief History:

Health Care: 3/22/05, 3/24/05 [DP];

Appropriations: 3/28/05, 3/29/05 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 4/5/05, 93-1.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 13 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Hinkle, Lantz, Moeller, Schual-Berke and Skinner.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Bailey, Ranking Minority Member.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 28 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Buri, Clements, Cody, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hinkle, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, McIntire, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, Talcott and Walsh.

Staff: David Pringle (786-7310).

Background:

TRICARE is the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) worldwide health care program for uniformed service members and their families. The Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) provides health coverage for state and other public employees.

TRICARE coverage is available to service members upon their retirement, even if they subsequently become employed. However, many of those who are subsequently employed by the state or other public employers choose PEBB coverage instead.

Current law does not allow PEBB to offer other than a comprehensive health benefit plan. If PEBB were allowed to offer a TRICARE supplement, retired military personnel employed by the state might retain their DOD-funded TRICARE coverage, leaving the state to pay only for the less costly supplemental benefits.

Summary of Bill:

The Health Care Authority may make available a TRICARE supplemental insurance policy to employees who are eligible.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Testimony For: (Health Care) If state employed retired military personnel were able to maintain their TRICARE coverage with a state supplemental policy, it would provide better coverage to the retiree at a lower cost to the state.

Testimony For: (Appropriations) None.

Testimony Against: (Health Care) None.

Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.

Persons Testifying: (Health Care) Senator Keiser, prime sponsor; and Josh Benton, American Benefits Services.

Persons Testifying: (Appropriations) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Health Care) None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: (Appropriations) None.