THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3175

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the state health insurance assistance program is a volunteer-based program offering free health benefits counseling services to medicare beneficiaries, their families, and soon-to-be retirees.  The state health insurance assistance program's mission is to educate, advocate for, counsel, and empower individuals to make informed health care benefit decisions.  The state health insurance assistance program is an independent program funded by the United States Administration for Community Living and is not affiliated with any insurance provider.

     In Hawaii, the state health insurance assistance program has two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) staff and over one hundred volunteers.  These statewide volunteers provide free, local, unbiased, one-on-one assistance to over two thousand two hundred residents each year.  In 2019, three thousand one hundred inquiries were made to the state health insurance assistance program's statewide helpline and website.  Approximately 2,264 senior citizens received counseling, and 14,335 individuals were reached at community events.  The state health insurance assistance program averaged over twenty inquiries and counseling sessions per day.

     Although the state health insurance assistance program has experienced significant growth during the past three years, it still falls short of the three per cent penetration goal of the medicare market in Hawaii, as set by the federal funders.  Three per cent of the medicare market in Hawaii approximates to seven thousand five hundred senior citizens annually.  However, further growth is not possible at current staffing and funding levels.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the state health insurance assistance program so that it can grow and continue to reach additional senior citizens in Hawaii with its important services.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the state health insurance assistance program, to be allocated in the following manner:

     (1)  $        for service contracts to partner with the medical community, such as federally qualified health centers that currently serve older individuals;

     (2)  $        for staffing contracts to provide programmatic support to the two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) staff of the state health insurance assistance program; and

     (3)  $       for volunteer recruitment and retention, including developing and airing public service announcements and other print and digital media to promote the state health insurance assistance program.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on aging for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.



 

Report Title:

State Health Insurance Assistance Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the state health insurance assistance program.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.