H-35                 _______________________________________________

 

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1591

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Patrick, Prentice, Van Luven and Brekke

 

 

Read first time 1/30/89 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to disability insurance policies; 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:

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:

          Any disability insurance policy providing pregnancy-related benefits delivered or issued in this state after January 1, 1990, shall include benefits for expenses arising from any recognized infertility treatment on the same basis as benefits for other pregnancy-related expenses subject to the following conditions:

          (1) The insured and the insured's spouse have a history of infertility of at least five years' duration or the infertility is associated with one or more of the following medical conditions:

          (a) Endometriosis;

          (b) Exposure in utero to diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES; or

          (c) Blockage of, or surgical removal of, one or both fallopian tubes, laterial or bilaterial salpingectomy;

          (2) The insured has been unable to attain a successful pregnancy through any less costly applicable infertility treatments for which coverage is available under the policy; and

          (3) The infertility treatments are performed at medical facilities that conform to the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists guidelines for treatment of infertility.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:

          Any group disability insurance policy providing pregnancy-related benefits delivered or issued in this state after January 1, 1990, shall include benefits for expenses arising from any recognized infertility treatment on the same basis as benefits for other pregnancy-related expenses subject to the following conditions:

          (1) The insured and the insured's spouse have a history of infertility of at least five years' duration or the infertility is associated with one or more of the following medical conditions:

          (a) Endometriosis;

          (b) Exposure in utero to diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES; or

          (c) Blockage of, or surgical removal of, one or both fallopian tubes, laterial or bilaterial salpingectomy;

          (2) The insured has been unable to attain a successful pregnancy through any less costly applicable infertility treatments for which coverage is available under the policy; and

          (3) The infertility treatments are performed at medical facilities that conform to the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists guidelines for treatment of infertility.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:

          Any individual or group contract for health care providing pregnancy-related benefits delivered or issued in this state after January 1, 1990, shall include benefits for expenses arising from any recognized infertility treatment on the same basis as benefits for other pregnancy-related expenses subject to the following conditions:

          (1) The covered person and the covered person's spouse have a history of infertility of at lest five years' duration or the infertility is associated with one or more of the following medical conditions:

          (a) Endometriosis;

          (b) Exposure in utero to diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES; or

          (c) Blockage of, or surgical removal of, one or both fallopian tubes, laterial or bilaterial salpingectomy;

          (2) The covered person has been unable to attain a successful pregnancy through any less costly applicable infertility treatments for which coverage is available under the contract; and

          (3) The infertility treatments are performed at medical facilities that conform to the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists guidelines for treatment of infertility.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:

          Any health maintenance agreement providing pregnancy-related benefits delivered or issued in this state after January 1, 1990, shall include benefits for any recognized infertility treatment on the same basis as benefits for other pregnancy-related health care subject to the following conditions:

          (1) The covered person and the covered person's spouse have a history of infertility of at least five years' duration or the infertility is associated with one or more of the following medical conditions:

          (a) Endometriosis;

          (b) Exposure in utero to diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES; or

          (c) Blockage of, or surgical removal of, one or both fallopian tubes, laterial or bilaterial salpingectomy;

          (2) The covered person has been unable to attain a successful pregnancy through any less costly applicable infertility treatments for which coverage is available under the agreement; and

          (3) The infertility treatments are performed at medical facilities that conform to the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists guidelines for treatment of infertility.