48.41.140 - Coverage for children, unmarried dependents. - Washington Statutes

Coverage for children, unmarried dependents.

(1) Coverage shall provide that health insurance benefits are applicable to children of the person in whose name the policy is issued including adopted and newly born natural children. Coverage shall also include necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects and birth abnormalities. If payment of a specific premium is required to provide coverage for the child, the policy may require that notification of the birth or adoption of a child and payment of the required premium must be furnished to the pool within thirty-one days after the date of birth or adoption in order to have the coverage continued beyond the thirty-one day period. For purposes of this subsection, a child is deemed to be adopted, and benefits are payable, when the child is physically placed for purposes of adoption under the laws of this state with the person in whose name the policy is issued; and, when the person in whose name the policy is issued assumes financial responsibility for the medical expenses of the child. For purposes of this subsection, "newly born" means, and benefits are payable, from the moment of birth.

     (2) A pool policy shall provide that coverage of a dependent, unmarried person shall terminate when the person becomes nineteen years of age: PROVIDED, That coverage of such person shall not terminate at age nineteen while he or she is and continues to be both (a) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of developmental disability or physical handicap and (b) chiefly dependent upon the person in whose name the policy is issued for support and maintenance, provided proof of such incapacity and dependency is furnished to the pool by the policyholder within thirty-one days of the dependent's attainment of age nineteen and subsequently as may be required by the pool but not more frequently than annually after the two-year period following the dependent's attainment of age nineteen.

[2000 c 79 § 16; 1987 c 431 § 14.]

Notes: Effective date -- Severability -- 2000 c 79: See notes following RCW 48.04.010.