HB 2441 seeks to expand medical insurance premium reimbursement for the surviving spouse, domestic partner, and dependent children of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty and enrolled in the Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System (LEOFF) 2 plan.
The bill clarifies and broadens reimbursement for health insurance costs, including Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) premiums, and ensures coverage during the period between a member’s death and the official determination that the death occurred in the course of employment. It also allows reimbursement of other medical insurance costs if survivors cannot continue employer-provided coverage during that determination period. However, reimbursement for other medical insurance costs cannot exceed the reimbursement amount for premiums authorized by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, better known as COBRA.
HB 2441 passed out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee on February 26 without amendment. It will have to pass out of the Senate by the March 6 cutoff.