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HB 5586

AN ACT OPENING THE STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN TO CERTAIN VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND VOLUNTEER MEMBERS OF AMBULANCE SERVICES OR COMPANIES.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jaime Foster and 2 co-sponsors

Expands SEHIP eligibility to include certain volunteer firefighters and ambulance service members, giving state health coverage to these volunteers.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Insurance and Real Estate
#stateemployeehealthinsurance #volunteerambulancecompanies #volunteerfirefighters
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Bill Summary · HB 5586

HB 5586 — Summary

What this bill is about

HB 5586 proposes to open the State Employee Health Insurance Plan (SEHIP) to certain volunteer public-safety personnel, specifically volunteer firefighters and volunteer members of ambulance services or companies. The bill aims to extend access to state-sponsored health coverage to individuals who serve in volunteer capacities and may not currently have employer-provided health insurance.

Purpose and intent

  • Expand access to health insurance for volunteers who serve in firefighting and emergency medical services.
  • Potentially improve health coverage for volunteers who respond to medical emergencies and public-safety incidents, thereby supporting their readiness and financial security.
  • Align eligibility rules of SEHIP with public safety volunteer infrastructure.

Key provisions (as implied by the bill’s title; the exact statutory language will determine full scope)

  • Add eligibility for SEHIP to include:
    • Certain volunteer firefighters.
    • Volunteer members of ambulance services or ambulance companies.
  • Establish enrollment processes for newly eligible volunteers (e.g., when they may enroll, required verification of volunteer status).
  • Define who would pay premiums (state, the volunteers or their departments, or a combination) and any cost-sharing arrangements.
  • Set criteria for which volunteer organizations qualify (e.g., recognized volunteer fire departments or licensed ambulance services).
  • Outline coordination with existing SEHIP rules, including any coordination with other health plans, eligibility verification, and termination/adjustment provisions.
  • Include any transitional provisions, timelines for implementation, and administrative responsibilities for plan administrators.

Who would be affected

  • Eligible individuals: volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance service or company members.
  • Volunteer organizations: fire departments and ambulance services/companies that participate in or coordinate with SEHIP enrollment.
  • State agencies and SEHIP administrators responsible for administering enrollment, premiums, and plan administration.

Timeline and procedural status

  • Introduced: March 14, 2025.
  • 2025-01-21: Referred to Joint Committee on Insurance and Real Estate.
  • 2025-04-07: Read first time and referred to Insurance (indicating ongoing committee consideration).
  • Next steps: Likely committee deliberations, potential amendments, and eventual floor consideration if advanced.

Fiscal and policy considerations

  • Potential impact on SEHIP costs and state budget, depending on the size of eligible volunteer populations and premium contributions.
  • Administrative costs related to eligibility verification, enrollment processing, and plan administration.
  • Possible savings or cost shifts related to improved access to preventive care and reduced uncompensated care, though these would depend on enrollment levels and health outcomes.

Practical takeaways for readers

  • The bill would create a new eligibility category for SEHIP, expanding health coverage to specified volunteer public-safety personnel.
  • Detailed eligibility criteria, premium cost-sharing, and implementation timelines will be defined in the bill’s text when available.
  • The bill is in early committee stages; outcomes will depend on subsequent legislative action and any amendments.

If you’d like, I can incorporate the bill text once it’s released to provide a more precise provision-by-provision summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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