BILL REQ. #:  S-3904.1 

Read first time 01/09/2006.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to providing insurance coverage to dependent children; amending RCW 48.20.420, 48.21.150, 48.44.200, 48.44.210, and 48.46.320; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 48.20.420 and 1985 c 264 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any disability insurance contract providing health care services, delivered or issued for delivery in this state more than one hundred twenty days after August 11, 1969, ((which)) that provides that coverage of a dependent child shall terminate upon attainment of the limiting age for dependent children ((specified in the contract)), shall also provide in substance that attainment of such limiting age shall not operate to terminate the coverage of such child while the child is and continues to be both (1) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of developmental disability or physical handicap and (2) chiefly dependent upon the subscriber for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the insurer by the subscriber within thirty-one days of the child's attainment of the limiting age and subsequently as may be required by the insurer but not more frequently than annually after the two year period following the child's attainment of the limiting age.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:
     Any disability insurance contract that provides coverage for a dependent child must cover any unmarried child of the subscriber or the subscriber's spouse if the child is under the limiting age of twenty-five.

Sec. 3   RCW 48.21.150 and 1977 ex.s. c 80 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any group disability insurance contract or blanket disability insurance contract, providing health care services, delivered or issued for delivery in this state more than one hundred twenty days after August 11, 1969, ((which)) that provides that coverage of a dependent child of an employee or other member of the covered group shall terminate upon attainment of the limiting age for dependent children ((specified in the contract)) shall also provide in substance that attainment of such limiting age shall not operate to terminate the coverage of such child while the child is and continues to be both (1) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of developmental disability or physical handicap and (2) chiefly dependent upon the employee or member for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the insurer by the employee or member within thirty-one days of the child's attainment of the limiting age and subsequently as may be required by the insurer, but not more frequently than annually after the two year period following the child's attainment of the limiting age.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:
     Any group disability insurance contract or blanket disability insurance contract that provides coverage for a dependent child must cover any unmarried child of the subscriber or the subscriber's spouse if the child is under the limiting age of twenty-five.

Sec. 5   RCW 48.44.200 and 1977 ex.s. c 80 s 33 are each amended to read as follows:
     An individual health care service plan contract, delivered or issued for delivery in this state more than one hundred twenty days after August 11, 1969, ((which)) that provides that coverage of a dependent child shall terminate upon attainment of the limiting age for dependent children ((specified in the contract)) shall also provide in substance that attainment of such limiting age shall not operate to terminate the coverage of such child while the child is and continues to be both (1) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of developmental disability or physical handicap and (2) chiefly dependent upon the subscriber for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the health care service plan corporation by the subscriber within thirty-one days of the child's attainment of the limiting age and subsequently as may be required by the corporation but not more frequently than annually after the two year period following the child's attainment of the limiting age.

Sec. 6   RCW 48.44.210 and 1977 ex.s. c 80 s 34 are each amended to read as follows:
     A group health care service plan contract, delivered or issued for delivery in this state more than one hundred twenty days after August 11, 1969, ((which)) that provides that coverage of a dependent child of an employee or other member of the covered group shall terminate upon attainment of the limiting age for dependent children ((specified in the contract)) shall also provide in substance that attainment of such limiting age shall not operate to terminate the coverage of such child while the child is and continues to be both (1) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of developmental disability or physical handicap and (2) chiefly dependent upon the employee or member for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the health care service plan corporation by the employee or member within thirty-one days of the child's attainment of the limiting age and subsequently as may be required by the corporation, but not more frequently than annually after the two year period following the child's attainment of the limiting age.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:
     Any individual health care service plan contract or group health care service plan contract that provides coverage for a dependent child must cover any unmarried child of the subscriber or the subscriber's spouse if the child is under the limiting age of twenty-five.

Sec. 8   RCW 48.46.320 and 1985 c 320 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     Any health maintenance agreement ((which)) that provides that coverage of a dependent child shall terminate upon attainment of the limiting age for dependent children ((specified in the agreement)) shall also provide in substance that attainment of such limiting age shall not operate to terminate the coverage of such child while the child is and continues to be both: (1) Incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of developmental disability or physical handicap; and (2) chiefly dependent upon the subscriber for support and maintenance, if proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the health maintenance organization by the enrolled participant within thirty-one days of the child's attainment of the limiting age and subsequently as required by the health maintenance organization but not more frequently than annually after the two-year period following the child's attainment of the limiting age.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:
     Any health maintenance agreement that provides coverage for a dependent child must cover any unmarried child of the subscriber or the subscriber's spouse if the child is under the limiting age of twenty-five.