Washington state lawmakers pitched a bill in January that would prompt health insurance carriers on its benefit exchange to contribute to an abortion savings program.
SB 6182 seeks to establish a fund to assist those who face barriers to abortion coverage by creating a savings account in the state treasury to distribute “grants to maintain access to direct patient abortion clinical care services for individuals in the state,” the bill said. At least 85% of the funds must be directed as grants to eligible organizations, which include abortion providers or funds in the state reproductive health program, Indian healthcare providers, and independent practitioners, including telehealth providers, in underserved areas.
Insurers, excluding those offering only dental and vision plans, would be subject to an annual coverage assessment of $0.82 per coverage month for year one and $0.165 per coverage month in the years following. The first payment would be due March 1, 2027, and reflect the prior calendar year. Insurers cannot modify premiums, rates or plan designs to accommodate the payments unless the commissioner determines a risk to the insurer’s solvency or consumer harm.
Under the bill, insurers who pay their assessments late are subject to penalties, with interest accruing after 61 days. The state’s commissioner can revoke an insurer’s certificate of authority until the group pays.
The bill also includes privacy accommodations, which would protect the identifying information of staff, care providers and patients at grant-receiving organizations.
The bill has passed the state Senate and is now being reviewed in the House.
