WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

48.20.460 - Standardization and simplification -- Minimum standards for benefits and coverages.

Standardization and simplification — Minimum standards for benefits and coverages.

(1) The commissioner shall issue regulations to establish minimum standards for benefits under each of the following categories of coverage in individual policies, other than conversion policies issued pursuant to a contractual conversion privilege under a group policy, of disability insurance:

     (a) Basic hospital expense coverage;

     (b) Basic medical-surgical expense coverage;

     (c) Hospital confinement indemnity coverage;

     (d) Major medical expense coverage;

     (e) Disability income protection coverage;

     (f) Accident only coverage;

     (g) Specified disease or specified accident coverage;

     (h) Medicare supplemental coverage; and

     (i) Limited benefit coverage.

     (2) Nothing in this section shall preclude the issuance of any policy which combines two or more of the categories of coverage enumerated in items (a) through (f) of subsection (1) of this section.

     (3) No policy shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state which does not meet the prescribed minimum standards for the categories of coverage listed in items (a) through (i) of subsection (1) of this section, unless the commissioner finds such policy will be in the public interest and such policy meets the requirements set forth in RCW 48.18.110.

     (4) The commissioner shall prescribe the method of identification of policies based upon coverages provided.