BILL REQ. #:  Z-0325.1 

Read first time 01/25/2005.   Referred to Committee on Health Care.

     AN ACT Relating to making medicare supplemental insurance policies administered under chapter 41.05 RCW conform to federal law; amending RCW 41.05.195 and 41.05.197; and repealing RCW 41.05.190.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 41.05.195 and 1993 c 492 s 222 are each amended to read as follows:
     Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title or rules or procedures adopted by the authority, the authority shall make available to retired or disabled employees who are ((eligible for)) enrolled in parts A and B of medicare ((at least two)) one or more medicare supplemental insurance policies that conform to the medicare supplement insurance minimum standards adopted by the national association of insurance commissioners and the requirements of chapter 48.66 RCW. ((One policy shall include coverage for prescription drugs.)) The policies shall be chosen in consultation with the public employees' benefits board. These policies shall be made available to retired or disabled state employees((, or)); retired or disabled school district employees; retired employees of county, municipal, or other political subdivisions eligible for coverage available under the authority; or surviving spouses of emergency service personnel killed in the line of duty. ((All offerings shall be made available not later than January 1, 1994.))

Sec. 2   RCW 41.05.197 and 1993 c 492 s 223 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((If a waiver of the medicare statute, Title XVIII of the federal social security act, sufficient to meet the requirements of chapter 492, Laws of 1993 is not granted on or before January 1, 1995,)) The medicare supplemental insurance policies authorized under RCW 41.05.195 shall be made available to any resident of the state ((eligible for medicare benefits. Except for those retired state or school district employees eligible to purchase medicare supplemental benefits through the authority, persons)) who:
     (1) Is enrolled in parts A and B of medicare; and
     (2) Is not eligible to purchase coverage under RCW 41.05.195. State residents purchasing a medicare supplemental insurance policy under this section shall be required to pay the full cost of any such policy.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   RCW 41.05.190 (Medicare supplemental insurance plan) and 1998 c 245 s 37 & 1993 c 492 s 221 are each repealed.