11/16/2007   Reminder: Working hours defined for small employer

Effective Jun. 10, 2004, Washington insurance regulations were revised to exclude groups of one from the community rate pool and to redefine a small group employer as follows:

"Small employer" or "small group" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, political subdivision, sole proprietor, or self-employed individual that is actively engaged in business that, on at least fifty percent of its working days during the preceding calendar quarter, employed at least two but no more than fifty eligible employees, with a normal work week of thirty or more hours, the majority of whom were employed within this state, and is not formed primarily for purposes of buying health insurance and in which a bona fide employer-employee relationship exists.

If a group does not employ at least two employees who regularly work 30 or more hours per week, it does not meet the Washington state definition of an eligible small group employer and is therefore not eligible for Community group coverage.

If you're interested in learning more about this topic, visit the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner Web site or talk to your Asuris Sales contact.

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