Olympia, Wash. — Gov. Chris Gregoire is scheduled to sign a bill requested by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler today that protects people who need an organ transplant if they switch insurance plans.

Most health plans impose waiting periods before a new enrollee is covered for certain pre-existing conditions. They also have additional waiting periods before they’ll cover a transplant.

If an individual or their employer changes health plans and they had creditable coverage under their previous plan, they don’t have to satisfy a second benefit waiting period. Unfortunately, there is a loophole in the law that could force transplant patients to endure a second waiting period if they or their employer switch health plans.

“Transplant patients don’t have the luxury of time,” said Kreidler. “This was certainly the case for transplant patient Fred Watley of Spokane. He’d been on the transplant list for a new liver when his employer changed health plans. Mr. Watley moved up the list only to discover that his new plan required him to wait another six months before he could receive the transplant. Thankfully his new health insurer, Group Health recognized the seriousness of his case and did the right thing.”

“Thanks to this new law sponsored by Rep. John Driscoll of Spokane, transplant patients who switch insurance coverage can rest easier knowing we’ve closed this life-threatening insurance loophole.”

Fact sheet on transplant bill

Transplant bill

Commissioner Kreidler’s testimony