SB 6422 - DIGEST

Provides that, "small employer group enrollee" means an individual, or an individual plus the individual's spouse or dependent children, whose employer: (1) Is a small employer as defined in RCW 48.43.005;

(2) Applies for group coverage through the plan; and

(3) Agrees to pay a premium for that coverage which is equal to the cost charged by the managed health care system to the state for the plan plus the administrative cost of providing the plan to the small employer group.

Provides that the administrator shall accept applications for group coverage from small employers who meet the requirements of this act on behalf of themselves and their employees, spouses, and dependent children who reside in an area served by the plan.

Declares that small employer group coverage through the basic health plan is not conditioned upon the small employer group enrollees meeting the eligibility requirements for subsidized enrollees provided in RCW 70.47.020(4).

Authorizes the administrator to require all or a substantial majority of employees of small employers to enroll in the plan and establish those procedures necessary to facilitate the orderly enrollment of groups in the plan. The administrator may also devise policies and procedures to assist small employer group enrollees who meet the eligibility requirements for subsidized enrollees provided in RCW 70.47.020(4) to seek enrollment as a subsidized enrollee.

Declares that small employer group enrollees are eligible for coverage through the basic health plan subsidized enrollee pool, even though employees in the group may not be subsidized enrollees as defined in RCW 70.47.020(4).