Does Washington State have a mandate that only employees working 20 hours or more can receive health insurance? We want to give our part time employees health insurance and are being told that the state wouldn't allow it even though we're a private company.

To the best of my knowledge, the state does not get involved with such matters. There is no law I know of that prohibits the employer from offering benefits if they choose to. Who's trying to tell you that there is?

There's no state law to that effect but you may have trouble finding a carrier to cover employees with so few hours at anything like a reasonable cost.

Few if any states will prohibit an employer from providing benefits.

That makes sense to me. My insurance broker is telling me this and it just didn't make sense to me. We've had a policy where you had to work at least 30 hours a week but we're looking at changing that. If we're ok with paying the premium then why shouldn't they be ok with carrying the policy? Thanks for the info. I'll go back to them.

If the broker continues to tell you that an employer is prohibited from providing benefits to employees who work less than 20 hours a week, ask him to show you the law. Either he won't be able to, because it doesn't exist, or we'll all learn something. :)

That's exactly what I did, as nice as I could. I'll let you know what they say. Thanks again for your help. :)

I think there is a little confusion. Its not you can’t, its how much doe your part time employees make? Will the insurance you provide better than the state plan for low income workers? Link http://www.basichealth.hca.wa.gov/cost/income.shtml
I think this link will clarify.
JoeC

low-income and yeah, our benefits are very strong. Our part-time workers are part time because they have other sources of income, they just don't have other sources of health care insurance and don't want to pay large premiums.

My health insurance broker pointed me to RCW 48.43.005 which defines eligible employees as those who work full-time (30 hours or more a week.) She then also showed me our insurer's form that said eligible employees must work 20 or more hours a week. I wasn't sure that the RCW really proved anything but the insurer's application did. So I've pretty much accepted the idea.

Thanks,

A

If I'm reading it correctly, the law your broker showed you has to do with a plan that is accessable to employees who do NOT have available insurance through their employer, and does not represent a law binding on all insurance policies in the state.

I had suggested that your insurer might not be willing to provide coverage. You are free to try to find another insurer who will (even just for the part time benefits) if this is an issue you feel strongly about.