Bill Text: OR HB2978 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to health insurance.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [HB2978 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2011-HB2978-Introduced.html
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 429
House Bill 2978
Sponsored by Representative WINGARD (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
Provides option for educator participating in benefit plan
contracted for by Oregon Educators Benefit Board to enroll in
employee-only benefit plan.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to health insurance; amending ORS 243.866.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 243.866, as amended by section 2, chapter 49,
Oregon Laws 2010, is amended to read:
243.866. (1) The Oregon Educators Benefit Board shall contract
for benefit plans best designed to meet the needs and provide for
the welfare of eligible employees and the districts. In
considering whether to enter into a contract for a benefit plan,
the board shall place emphasis on:
(a) Employee choice among high-quality plans;
(b) Encouragement of a competitive marketplace;
(c) Plan performance and information;
(d) District flexibility in plan design and contracting;
(e) Quality customer service;
(f) Creativity and innovation;
(g) Plan benefits as part of total employee compensation; and
(h) Improvement of employee health.
(2) The board may approve more than one carrier for each type
of benefit plan offered, but the board shall limit the number of
carriers to a number consistent with adequate service to eligible
employees and family members.
(3) { + An eligible employee shall have the option to enroll
in a benefit plan that provides coverage solely for the employee
at the premium rate for a single individual. + } When
appropriate, the board shall provide options under which an
eligible employee may arrange coverage for family members under a
benefit plan.
(4) A district shall provide that payroll deductions for
benefit plan costs that are not payable by the district may be
made upon receipt of a signed authorization from the employee
indicating an election to participate in the benefit plan or
plans selected and allowing the deduction of those costs from the
employee's pay.
(5) In developing any benefit plan, the board may provide an
option of additional coverage for eligible employees and family
members at an additional premium.
(6) The board shall adopt rules providing that transfer of
enrollment from one benefit plan to another is open to all
eligible employees and family members. Because of the special
problems that may arise involving acceptable physician-patient
relations between a particular panel of physicians and a
particular eligible employee or family member under a
comprehensive group practice benefit plan, the board shall
provide a procedure under which any eligible employee may apply
at any time to substitute another benefit plan for participation
in a comprehensive group practice benefit plan.
(7) An eligible employee who is retired is not required to
participate in a health benefit plan offered under this section
in order to obtain dental benefit plan coverage. The board shall
establish by rule standards of eligibility for retired employees
to participate in a dental benefit plan.
(8) The board shall evaluate a benefit plan that serves a
limited geographic region of this state according to the criteria
described in subsection (1) of this section.
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