WSR 02-02-069

OFFICE OF THE

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

[ Filed December 28, 2001, 3:58 p.m. ]


TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ADVISORY

T 2001-03

Washington State Health Insurance Pool (WSHIP) - Annual Assessment Report


December 28, 2001



     The purpose of this Technical Assistance Advisory is to draw your attention to and provide guidance for completion of the assessment report that you will be receiving from the WSHIP plan administrator in January 2002. This report is necessary in order to determine each WSHIP member's proportion of financial participation in the pool as directed by RCW 48.41.090.

     It is essential that you complete the assessment report and return it within the timeframe indicated, to assure equitable assessment of all WSHIP members. Failure to respond to this directive will be considered an untimely response to a request from the insurance commissioner and may result in disciplinary action as outlined in RCW 48.05.140 and 48.05.185.

     Under this report you will be required to submit group and individual enrollment data for Washington residents covered under your health plans as defined in RCW 48.41.030(11) as of December 31, 2001. This enrollment data should include covered spouse and dependents.

     If you provide stop loss coverage you will also be required to report the enrollment of the self-insured plan that has been reinsured by your stop loss plan. This data should also include covered spouse and dependents.

     NOTE: Only members as defined in RCW 48.41.030(14) are subject to this assessment. If you are not a "member" or you have no enrollment data to report as of December 31, 2001, your response is still required. If this is the case, please complete the company information, indicate "none" under the enrollment data sections of the report and return it with the declaration of accuracy section dated and signed. The report must be sent to both this office and also to WSHIP's plan administrator.

     We would also like to bring to your attention WSHIP's decision to change the method of collection of enrollment data prospectively for calendar year 2002. To fulfill the requirements of RCW 48.41.090 (2)(a), the 2003 assessment report will require an accounting of enrollment on a monthly basis during calendar year 2002. This method of reporting will apply to both the enrollments under all health plans and to those under any self-insured plan reinsured by stop loss coverage.

     Questions about this Technical Assistance Advisory or the assessment report may be directed to Janis LaFlash, Senior Health Policy Analyst, (360) 753-4214, JanisL@OIC.WA.GOV or to Lichiou Lee, Associate Actuary, (360) 586-5313, LichiouL@OIC.WA.GOV.

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