HB 1298
In CommitteeHouse
Student athlete insurance
Concerning student athlete insurance.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill expands insurance options for students and staff at Washington’s public colleges and universities, especially by allowing institutions to provide and pay for health coverage for graduate students with service appointments and for intercollegiate athletes — including former athletes needing follow-up care for athletic injuries. It also clarifies rules for insurance requirements for students studying abroad.
- Allows public four-year institutions to provide and pay for health benefits for graduate students with service appointments, possibly covering spouses and dependents.
- Allows institutions to require students studying or researching abroad to buy approved insurance (unless they already have comparable coverage), and lets schools pay part or all of the cost.
- Allows public four-year institutions to provide and pay for insurance for current and former intercollegiate athletes, including coverage for post-eligibility health care related to athletic injuries.
- Maintains existing authority for all public higher education institutions to offer various types of insurance (e.g., liability, health, disability) to regents, trustees, students, and employees — with premiums paid by the covered individuals unless otherwise specified.
Who is affected
- Graduate students at public four-year institutions — Graduate students with service appointments at public four-year institutions may receive free or subsidized health benefits, possibly extending to their spouses and dependents.
- Students participating in study/research programs outside the U.S. — Students studying or researching abroad may be required to buy approved insurance (unless they already have comparable coverage), and the school may help pay for it.
- Intercollegiate student athletes (current and former) — Current and former intercollegiate athletes may be eligible for insurance coverage paid for by their institution, including coverage for post-eligibility health care related to athletic injuries.
- Regents, trustees, and students of Washington's public higher education institutions — Regents, trustees, and students may continue to purchase various types of insurance (e.g., liability, health, disability), but must pay premiums unless another provision says otherwise.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Allowing public four-year institutions to fully fund health benefits for graduate students with service appointments—including spouses and dependents—directly improves access to care for a vulnerable subset of students who often lack employer-sponsored coverage and may be on tight stipends.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)Providing insurance coverage—including post-eligibility care—for current and former intercollegiate athletes addresses a critical gap in long-term health security for student athletes, many of whom sustain serious injuries during their collegiate careers and lack ongoing coverage after graduation.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)Allowing institutions to subsidize insurance for students studying abroad removes a significant financial barrier to international academic engagement, potentially increasing participation in globally enriching educational experiences—especially for students who might otherwise be priced out.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)Reaffirming institutions’ authority to offer health and disability insurance to students and staff—while allowing premium subsidies—creates flexibility for campuses to design coverage tailored to local needs, potentially filling gaps in Washington’s fragmented private insurance market.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)By requiring institutions to provide insurance for post-eligibility athletic injury care, the bill supports long-term physical well-being and reduces the risk of untreated injuries leading to disability or secondary health complications—benefiting student athletes’ long-term quality of life.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)
Potential Concerns (5)
Expanding institutional authority to pay for graduate student health benefits may increase state/institutional spending, potentially diverting funds from other academic or support services that benefit broader student populations—including non-graduate, low-income, or first-generation students.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)Mandating insurance for students studying abroad—while allowing schools to subsidize part of the cost—may create a financial burden for students whose institutions choose not to fully cover premiums, especially those without existing comparable coverage; this disproportionately affects students from lower-income households who may forgo study abroad opportunities altogether.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)Providing post-eligibility insurance for former athletes related to athletic injuries improves access to care for a specific group, but the benefit is narrow (only injuries tied to intercollegiate sports) and excludes many non-athlete students who face similar long-term health risks from physical activity or campus life—potentially reinforcing inequitable health access.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)The bill preserves existing authority for institutions to offer insurance to regents, trustees, and students, but unless premiums are fully subsidized, it does not meaningfully improve affordability for most students—especially since it does not address the broader high cost of student health insurance in Washington.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)The bill does not impose new reporting, compliance, or administrative mandates on local governments or municipalities, so there is no direct fiscal or operational impact on them.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(1)
Who Is Most Affected
Graduate students with service appointments (e.g., TAs, RAs) at public four-year institutions—especially those on stipends below living wage—will gain direct access to no- or low-cost health insurance, reducing financial stress and improving health outcomes.
Intercollegiate athletes (current and former) will gain access to insurance covering athletics-related injuries beyond eligibility, addressing a known gap in care for this high-injury-risk group—though the benefit excludes non-athletes and may not cover all long-term consequences of sport participation.
Students studying abroad may benefit from institutional subsidies for required insurance, reducing out-of-pocket costs and encouraging participation in global programs—but those without family coverage or financial means may still struggle if institutions opt not to fully subsidize.
Regents, trustees, and non-graduate students retain existing insurance options but must still pay premiums unless the institution chooses to subsidize—so this group sees little change in practice, though the bill preserves institutional flexibility.
State and institutional budgets may face modest increases if many graduate students or athletes enroll in subsidized plans—though the fiscal impact is uncertain and likely small relative to total higher education budgets.