1. (1) The commissioner must:

   1. (a) Develop a consumer education guide designed to educate consumers and help them make informed decisions as to the purchase of supplemental long-term care insurance policies provided under this chapter; and
   2. (b) Expand programs to educate consumers as to the supplemental long-term care insurance policies provided under this chapter, with a focus on the middle-income market. If allowable under federal law, the commissioner must expand the statewide health insurance benefits advisor program to provide the consumer education.

2. (2) The guide and programs should:

   1. (a) Provide additional information and counseling for consumers born before 1968. This information and counseling should educate these consumers as to potential out-of-pocket costs they may be subject to before supplemental long-term care insurance will begin paying claims and strategies for managing the gap between benefits payable under chapter 50B.04 RCW and coverage under supplemental long-term care insurance.
   2. (b) Support consumers in assessing the tradeoffs between various elimination period options and premium rates.
   3. (c) Educate consumers on budgeting any benefits available under chapter 50B.04 RCW carefully to reduce the likelihood and size of any potential gap between those benefits and the supplemental long-term care insurance.

[ 2025 c 380 s 38.]

Notes:

Effective date—2025 c 380 ss 17-39, 47, and 48: See note following RCW 48.212.005.