Title 48, INSURANCE

The legislature finds and declares that there is a paramount concern that the right of the people to obtain access to health care in all its facets is being impaired. The legislature further finds that there is a heavy reliance by the public upon prepaid health care service agree…

(1) Each group contract for comprehensive health care service which is entered into, or renewed, on or after September 8, 1983, between a health care service contractor and the person or persons to receive such care shall offer coverage for chiropractic care on the same basis as …

The legislature finds that diabetes imposes a significant health risk and tremendous financial burden on the citizens and government of the state of Washington, and that access to the medically accepted standards of care for diabetes, its treatment and supplies, and self-manageme…

(1) Every health care service contractor entering into or renewing a group health care service contract governed by this chapter shall offer optional coverage for home health care and hospice care for persons who are homebound and would otherwise require hospitalization. Such opt…

(1) Each health plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2012, that provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment must provide coverage for prescribed, self-administered anticancer medication that is used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis at leas…

Each health care service contract issued or renewed after January 1, 1990, that provides benefits for hospital or medical care shall provide benefits for screening or diagnostic mammography services, provided that such services are delivered upon the recommendation of the patient…

(1) Each health care service contract issued or renewed after December 31, 2006, that provides coverage for hospital or medical expenses shall provide coverage for prostate cancer screening, provided that the screening is delivered upon the recommendation of the patient's physici…

(1) Each contract for health care entered into or renewed after July 24, 1983, between a health care services contractor and the person or persons to receive the care shall provide coverage for reconstructive breast surgery resulting from a mastectomy which resulted from disease,…

No health care service contractor under this chapter may refuse to issue any contract or cancel or decline to renew the contract solely because of a mastectomy or lumpectomy performed on the insured or prospective insured more than five years previously. The amount of benefits pa…

(1) For the purposes of this section, "mental health services" means: (a) For health benefit plans issued or renewed before January 1, 2021, medically necessary outpatient and inpatient services provided to treat mental disorders covered by the diagnostic categories listed in the…

A health care service contractor providing hospital or medical services or benefits in this state shall waive a preauthorization from the contractor before an insured or an insured's covered dependents receive mental health treatment rendered by a state hospital as defined in RCW…

On or after January 1, 1990, every group health care services contract entered into or renewed that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses on a group basis, and which provides benefits for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions to enrollees of such groups, s…

(1) No person having any authority in the investment or disposition of the funds of a health care service contractor and no officer or director of a health care service contractor shall accept, except for the health care service contractor, or be the beneficiary of any fee, broke…

Every health care service contractor that issues group contracts providing group coverage for hospital or medical expense shall offer the contract holder an option to include a contract provision granting a person who becomes ineligible for coverage under the group contract, the …

(1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, any group health care service contract that provides benefits for hospital or medical expenses must contain a provision granting a person covered by the group contract the right to obtain a conversion contract from the contractor …

(1) A health care service contractor shall not require proof of insurability as a condition for issuance of the conversion contract. (2) A conversion contract may not contain an exclusion for preexisting conditions for any applicant. (3) A health care service contractor must offe…

If an individual health care service agreement is issued on any basis other than as applied for, an endorsement setting forth such modification must accompany and be attached to the agreement. No agreement shall be effective unless the endorsement is signed by the applicant, and …

After July 1, 1986, or on the next renewal date of the agreement, whichever is later, every health care service agreement issued, amended, or renewed for an individual and his or her dependents shall contain provisions to assure that the covered spouse and/or dependents, in the e…

(1) Any health care service contract under this chapter delivered or issued for delivery in this state, which provides coverage for dependent children, as defined in the contract of the subscriber, shall cover adoptive children placed with the subscriber on the same basis as othe…

Upon application by a subscriber, a rider shall be canceled if at least five years after its issuance, no health care services have been received by the subscriber during that time for the condition specified in the rider, and a physician, selected by the carrier for that purpose…

(1) The legislature finds that: (a) Phenylketonuria is a rare inherited genetic disorder. (b) Children with phenylketonuria are unable to metabolize an essential amino acid, phenylalanine, which is found in the proteins of most food. (c) To remain healthy, children with phenylket…

(1) Each employer-sponsored group contract for comprehensive health care service which is entered into, or renewed, on or after twelve months after July 23, 1989, shall include coverage for neurodevelopmental therapies for covered individuals age six and under. (2) Benefits provi…

(1) Except as provided in this section, a group health care service contract entered into or renewed after December 31, 1989, shall offer optional coverage for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. (a) Health care service contractors offering medical coverage only m…

Health care service contractors who through an authorized representative have first approved, by any means, an individual prescription claim as eligible may not reject that claim at some later date. Pharmacists or drug dispensing outlets who obtain preapproval of claims shall kee…

For the purposes of this chapter, a nonresident pharmacy is defined as any pharmacy located outside this state that ships, mails, or delivers, in any manner, except when delivered in person to an enrolled participant or his/her representative, controlled substances, legend drugs,…

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no contract of any health care service contractor subject to the jurisdiction of the state of Washington that covers any dental services, and no contract or participating provider agreement with a dentist may: (a) Require, directly…

Notwithstanding any provision of any health care service contract covering dental care as provided for in this chapter, effective January 1, 1995, benefits shall not be denied thereunder for any service performed by a denturist licensed under chapter 18.30 RCW if (1) the service …

(1) Every health care service contractor domiciled in this state shall file a report with the commissioner disclosing material acquisitions and dispositions of assets or material nonrenewals, cancellations, or revisions of ceded reinsurance agreements unless these acquisitions an…

No acquisitions or dispositions of assets need be reported pursuant to RCW 48.44.530 if the acquisitions or dispositions are not material. For purposes of RCW 48.44.530 through 48.44.555, a material acquisition, or the aggregate of any series of related acquisitions during any th…

(1) Asset acquisitions subject to RCW 48.44.530 through 48.44.555 include every purchase, lease, exchange, merger, consolidation, succession, or other acquisition other than the construction or development of real property by or for the reporting health care service contractor or…

The following information is required to be disclosed in any report of a material acquisition or disposition of assets: (1) Date of the transaction; (2) Manner of acquisition or disposition; (3) Description of the assets involved; (4) Nature and amount of the consideration given …

(1) No nonrenewals, cancellations, or revisions of ceded reinsurance agreements need be reported under RCW 48.44.530 if the nonrenewals, cancellations, or revisions are not material. For purposes of RCW 48.44.530 through 48.44.555, a material nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision…

The following is required to be disclosed in any report of a material nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision of ceded reinsurance agreements: (1) The effective date of the nonrenewal, cancellation, or revision; (2) The description of the transaction with an identification of the i…

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …