S-1176               _______________________________________________

 

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5470

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

 

By Senators Moore and Murray

 

 

Read first time 1/25/89 and referred to Committee on   Financial Institutions & Insurance.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to involuntary infertility; 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:

          (1) Each disability insurance contract that provides for the payment or reimbursement of pregnancy-related expenses shall provide for the payment or reimbursement of expenses related to involuntary infertility subject to the same contract provisions with respect to deductibles and co-payments as well as other contract provisions that apply to coverage for pregnancy-related expenses.

          (2) As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

          (a) "Involuntary infertility" means inability to conceive a pregnancy after one year or more of regular sexual relations without the use of contraceptives, the inability to carry pregnancy to a live birth, or the presence of a demonstrated condition recognized as a cause of infertility by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.

          (b) "Services related to involuntary infertility" means procedures consistent with established medical practices in the treatment of infertility as sanctioned by the American infertility society and American college of obstetrics and gynecology.

 

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

          (1) Each group disability insurance contract that provides for the payment or reimbursement of pregnancy-related expenses shall provide for the payment or reimbursement of expenses related to involuntary infertility subject to the same contract provisions with respect to deductibles and co-payments as well as other contract provisions that apply to coverage for pregnancy-related expenses.

          (2) As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

          (a) "Involuntary infertility" means inability to conceive a pregnancy after one year or more of regular sexual relations without the use of contraceptives, the inability to carry pregnancy to a live birth, or the presence of a demonstrated condition recognized as a cause of infertility by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.

          (b) "Services related to involuntary infertility" means procedures consistent with established medical practices in the treatment of infertility as sanctioned by the American infertility society and American college of obstetrics and gynecology.

 

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

          (1) Each health care service contract that provides for the payment or reimbursement of pregnancy-related expenses shall provide for the payment or reimbursement of expenses related to involuntary infertility subject to the same contract provisions with respect to deductibles and co-payments as well as other contract provisions that apply to coverage for pregnancy-related expenses.

          (2) As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

          (a) "Involuntary infertility" means inability to conceive a pregnancy after one year or more of regular sexual relations without the use of contraceptives, the inability to carry pregnancy to a live birth, or the presence of a demonstrated condition recognized as a cause of infertility by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.

          (b) "Services related to involuntary infertility" means procedures consistent with established medical practices in the treatment of infertility as sanctioned by the American infertility society and American college of obstetrics and gynecology.

 

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

          (1) Each health maintenance agreement that provides for the payment or reimbursement of pregnancy-related expenses shall provide for the payment or reimbursement of expenses related to involuntary infertility subject to the same contract provisions with respect to deductibles and co-payments as well as other contract provisions that apply to coverage for pregnancy-related expenses.

          (2) As used in this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

          (a) "Involuntary infertility" means inability to conceive a pregnancy after one year or more of regular sexual relations without the use of contraceptives, the inability to carry pregnancy to a live birth, or the presence of a demonstrated condition recognized as a cause of infertility by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.

          (b) "Services related to involuntary infertility" means procedures consistent with established medical practices in the treatment of infertility as sanctioned by the American infertility society and American college of obstetrics and gynecology.