WAC 182-505-0225 Premium requirements for premium-based healthcare coverage under programs included in apple health for kids.

1. For the purposes of this chapter, "premium" means an amount paid for coverage under programs included in apple health for kids as described in WAC 388-505-0210  (4) and (5).
2. Payment of a premium is required as a condition of eligibility for premium-based coverage under programs included in apple health for kids, as described in WAC 388-505-0210 (4)  and (5),  unless the child is:
   1. Pregnant; or
   2. An American Indian or Alaska Native.
3. The premium requirement begins the first of the month following the determination of eligibility.  There is no premium requirement for medical coverage received in a month or months before the determination of eligibility.
4. The premium amount for the assistance unit (AU) is based on the net countable income as described in WAC 388-450-0210 and the number of children in the (AU).  If the household includes more than one (AU), the premium amount billed for the AUs may be different amounts.
5. The premium amount is limited to a monthly maximum of two premiums for households with two or more children.
6. The premium amount for each U. S. citizen or lawfully present alien child described in WAC 388-505-0210  (4) is:
   1. Twenty dollars per month per child for households with income above two hundred percent FPL, but not above two hundred and fifty percent FPL;
   2. Thirty dollars per month per child for households with income above two hundred and fifty percent FPL, but not above three hundred percent FPL.
7. The premium amount for each noncitizen child described in WAC 388-505-0210  (5) who is not a lawfully present qualified or nonqualified alien is no greater than the average of the state-share of the per capita cost for state-funded children's health coverage.  The premium amount is set every two years, based on the forecasted per capita costs for that period.
8. All children in an AU are ineligible for healthcare coverage when the head of household fails to pay required premium payments for three consecutive months.
9. When the agency or the agency's designee terminates the medical coverage of a child due to nonpayment of premiums, the child's eligibility is restored only when the:
   1. Past due premiums are paid in full prior to the end of the certification period; or
   2. The child becomes eligible for coverage under a nonpremium-based CN healthcare program.
10. The agency or the agency's designee writes off past-due premiums after twelve months.
11. If all past due premiums are paid after the certification period is over:
    1.  Eligibility for prior months is not restored; and
    2. Children are not eligible for premium-based coverage under apple health for kids until:

                    i.  The month the premiums are paid or the agency writes off the debt; and

                    ii. The family reapplies and is found eligible.

    12.  A family cannot designate partial payment of the billed premium amount as payment for a specific child in the AU. The full premium amount is the obligation of the head of household of the AU. A family can decide to request healthcare coverage only for certain children in the AU, if they want to reduce premium obligation.

     13.  A change that affects the premium amount is effective the month after the change is reported  and processed.

     14.  A sponsor or other third party may pay the premium on behalf of the child or children in the AU. The premium payment requirement remains the obligation of head of household of the AU. The failure of a sponsor or other third party to pay the premium does not eliminate the obligation of the head of household to pay past due premiums.