56-241. SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE PILOT PROGRAM. (1) There is hereby created in the department a small business health insurance pilot program that shall be made available for up to one thousand (1,000) eligible adults, as defined in section 56-238, Idaho Code, based on available funding. The director shall implement the program by adopting rules recommended by the board of the Idaho individual high risk reinsurance pool created in section 41-5502, Idaho Code, providing for the payment of the benefit authorized in subsection (2) of this section through the use of the Idaho health insurance access card.

(2) The small business health insurance pilot program shall, through the Idaho health insurance access card program, pay to the insurance company providing insurance coverage through policies regulated under chapter 47, title 41, Idaho Code, for an adult enrolled in the small employer health insurance pilot program, for each month the insurance coverage is in effect, a one hundred dollar ($100) payment to be applied to the monthly insurance premium billed each month by the insurance company.

(3) Participation in the small business health insurance pilot program by any employer shall be optional. Nothing in sections 56-236 through 56-242, Idaho Code, shall be construed to mandate or require that an employer participate in the pilot program. Small employers who choose to participate in the small business health insurance pilot program shall meet insurance carriers’ contribution and participation guidelines.

(4) There is hereby created a small business health insurance advisory board which shall advise the Idaho individual high risk reinsurance pool board concerning issues related to the small business health insurance pilot program. The board shall consist of eight (8) members, four (4) members to be appointed by the director and four (4) members to be appointed by the governor. At least four (4) members of the board shall be representatives of small businesses, meaning those with two (2) to fifty (50) employees, that offer employee health benefit plans regulated under chapter 47, title 41, Idaho Code.

(5) The department shall limit assistance under the small business health insurance pilot program to those who do not have access to comparable or better coverage under other federal or state programs.

History:

[56-241, added 2003, ch. 308, sec. 6, p. 847; am. 2006, ch. 270, sec. 3, p. 841; am. 2014, ch. 80, sec. 5, p. 219.]