BILL REQ. #:  S-5476.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/12/08.   

     AN ACT Relating to the Washington state health insurance pool; amending RCW 48.41.100; and creating a new section.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 48.41.100 and 2007 c 259 s 30 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The following persons who are residents of this state are eligible for pool coverage:
     (a) Any person who provides evidence of a carrier's decision not to accept him or her for enrollment in an individual health benefit plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 based upon, and within ninety days of the receipt of, the results of the standard health questionnaire designated by the board and administered by health carriers under RCW 48.43.018;
     (b) Any person who continues to be eligible for pool coverage based upon the results of the standard health questionnaire designated by the board and administered by the pool administrator pursuant to subsection (3) of this section;
     (c) Any person who resides in a county of the state where no carrier or insurer eligible under chapter 48.15 RCW offers to the public an individual health benefit plan other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 at the time of application to the pool, and who makes direct application to the pool; and
     (d) Any medicare eligible person upon providing evidence of rejection for medical reasons, a requirement of restrictive riders, an up-rated premium, or a preexisting conditions limitation on a medicare supplemental insurance policy under chapter 48.66 RCW, the effect of which is to substantially reduce coverage from that received by a person considered a standard risk by at least one member within six months of the date of application.
     (2) The following persons are not eligible for coverage by the pool:
     (a) Any person having terminated coverage in the pool unless (i) twelve months have lapsed since termination, or (ii) that person can show continuous other coverage which has been involuntarily terminated for any reason other than nonpayment of premiums. However, these exclusions do not apply to eligible individuals as defined in section 2741(b) of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-41(b));
     (b) Any person on whose behalf the pool has paid out two million dollars in benefits;
     (c) Inmates of public institutions, and those persons ((whose benefits are duplicated under public programs)) who become eligible for medical assistance after June 30, 2008, as defined in RCW 74.09.010. However, these exclusions do not apply to eligible individuals as defined in section 2741(b) of the federal health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-41(b));
     (d) Any person who resides in a county of the state where any carrier or insurer regulated under chapter 48.15 RCW offers to the public an individual health benefit plan other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005 at the time of application to the pool and who does not qualify for pool coverage based upon the results of the standard health questionnaire, or pursuant to subsection (1)(d) of this section.
     (3) When a carrier or insurer regulated under chapter 48.15 RCW begins to offer an individual health benefit plan in a county where no carrier had been offering an individual health benefit plan:
     (a) If the health benefit plan offered is other than a catastrophic health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005, any person enrolled in a pool plan pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section in that county shall no longer be eligible for coverage under that plan pursuant to subsection (1)(c) of this section, but may continue to be eligible for pool coverage based upon the results of the standard health questionnaire designated by the board and administered by the pool administrator. The pool administrator shall offer to administer the questionnaire to each person no longer eligible for coverage under subsection (1)(c) of this section within thirty days of determining that he or she is no longer eligible;
     (b) Losing eligibility for pool coverage under this subsection (3) does not affect a person's eligibility for pool coverage under subsection (1)(a), (b), or (d) of this section; and
     (c) The pool administrator shall provide written notice to any person who is no longer eligible for coverage under a pool plan under this subsection (3) within thirty days of the administrator's determination that the person is no longer eligible. The notice shall: (i) Indicate that coverage under the plan will cease ninety days from the date that the notice is dated; (ii) describe any other coverage options, either in or outside of the pool, available to the person; (iii) describe the procedures for the administration of the standard health questionnaire to determine the person's continued eligibility for coverage under subsection (1)(b) of this section; and (iv) describe the enrollment process for the available options outside of the pool.
     (4) The board shall ensure that an independent analysis of the eligibility standards for the pool coverage is conducted, including examining the eight percent eligibility threshold, eligibility for medicaid enrollees and other publicly sponsored enrollees, and the impacts on the pool and the state budget. The board shall report the findings to the legislature by December 1, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The Washington state health insurance pool relies upon enrollee premiums and assessments paid by health insurance carriers for financing, and the number of enrollees supporting the assessment payments has declined as more employers and associations have chosen to self-insure their health care benefits. The office of the insurance commissioner is directed to convene a task force to recommend the best options for equitable, stable, and broad-based funding sources for the Washington state health insurance pool. Participants should include, at a minimum, representatives from insurance carriers, the pool, and the office of financial management. The task force recommendations shall be delivered to the legislature by December 1, 2008.