1. (1) All individual health benefit plans, other than catastrophic health plans, offered or renewed on or after October 1, 2000, shall include benefits described in this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a carrier to offer an individual health benefit plan.

   1. (a) Maternity services that include, with no enrollee cost-sharing requirements beyond those generally applicable cost-sharing requirements: Diagnosis of pregnancy; prenatal care; delivery; care for complications of pregnancy; physician services; hospital services; operating or other special procedure rooms; radiology and laboratory services; appropriate medications; anesthesia; and services required under RCW 48.43.115; and
   2. (b) Prescription drug benefits with at least a two thousand dollar benefit payable by the carrier annually.
2. (2) If a carrier offers a health benefit plan that is not a catastrophic health plan to groups, and it chooses to offer a health benefit plan to individuals, it must offer at least one health benefit plan to individuals that is not a catastrophic health plan.

[ 2000 c 79 s 26.]

Notes:

Effective dates—2000 c 79 ss 26, 38, and 39: "(1) Section 38 of this act takes effect July 1, 2000.

(2) Section 39 of this act takes effect September 1, 2000.

(3) *Section 26 of this act takes effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of a one hundred eighty-day period beginning on the effective date of section 25 of this act." [ 2000 c 79 s 50.]

*Reviser's note: Section 26 of this act takes effect October 1, 2000.

Severability—2000 c 79: See note following RCW 48.04.010.