BILL REQ. #:  S-1029.1 

Read first time 02/01/11.   Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance.

     AN ACT Relating to group disability insurance; and amending RCW 48.21.010.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 48.21.010 and 2010 c 13 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Group disability insurance is that form of disability insurance, including stop loss insurance as defined in RCW 48.11.030, provided by a master policy issued to an employer, to a trustee appointed by an employer or employers, or to an association of employers formed for purposes other than obtaining such insurance, covering, with or without their dependents, the employees, or specified categories of the employees, of such employers or their subsidiaries or affiliates, or issued to a labor union, or to an association of employees formed for purposes other than obtaining such insurance, covering, with or without their dependents, the members, or specified categories of the members, of the labor union or association, or issued pursuant to RCW 48.21.030. Group disability insurance includes the following groups that qualify for group life insurance:
     RCW 48.24.020, 48.24.035, 48.24.040, 48.24.045, 48.24.050, 48.24.060, 48.24.070, 48.24.080, 48.24.090, and 48.24.095. A group under RCW 48.24.027 does not qualify as a group for the purposes of this chapter.
     (2) Group disability insurance for lines of coverage identified in RCW 48.43.005(19)(e), (h), and (k) offered to a resident of this state under a group disability insurance policy may be issued to a group other than the groups described in subsection (1) of this section subject to the requirements in this subsection.
     (a) A group disability insurance policy offered under this subsection may not be delivered in this state unless the commissioner finds that:
     (i) The issuance of the group policy is not contrary to the best interest of the public;
     (ii) The issuance of the group policy would result in economies of acquisition or administration; and
     (iii) The benefits are reasonable in relation to the premium charged.
     (b) A group disability insurance coverage may not be offered under this subsection in this state by an insurer under a policy issued in another state unless the commissioner or the insurance commissioner of another state having requirements substantially similar to those contained in this subsection has made a determination that the requirements have been met.