Prospective Trust Members

The MBA Trust is a multiple-employer health insurance program. The Trust consolidates hundreds of industry-related employers into one large contract. This translates into significant purchasing power for the Trust that results in greatly reduced rates, enhanced employee benefit plans, and more effective and efficient customer service for participating companies and their employees. The member owned and operated Trust is directed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties.

The MBA Trust contract runs from September 1st through August 31st of each year. Regardless of a company’s effective date with the Trust, all rate and/or benefit modifications will be implemented on the Trust’s renewal anniversary date of September 1st.


Eligibility & Participation Criteria
Eligibility and participation requirements for companies enrolled or considering enrolling in the program are as follows:

Company Eligibility Requirements

• The company must be an active, income-generating business.
• The company must contribute a minimum of 75% towards the total employee rate; however, please note that there is no requirement for the company to make any contributions towards the cost of covering the employee’s family.
• The company must be headquartered in and have a minimum of 50% of its workforce located in the carrier’s service area.
• Access to the MBA Trust requires the company to be a current member of a sponsoring or endorsing trade association or organization (Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties; Associated Builders & Contractors of Western Washington; Associated Builders & Contractors – Inland Pacific Chapter; Northwest Marine Trade Association; Safety Management Advocacy Resources Training; and Washington Chapter of the Painting & Decorating Council of America). Annual Membership Dues and Access Fees (if applicable) must be maintained each year to continue participation in the MBA Trust.

Companies cancelled from the MBA Trust for any reason are not eligible to re-apply for 24 months.

Special New Company Enrollment Provisions: Enrollment opportunities for companies whose current insurance plan is provided by a Trust carrier (i.e., Asuris Northwest Health or Regence Blue Shield; or not related to your endorsing trade association industry) may be restricted from access to the MBA Trust program. Please contact the MBA Trust Consultants for complete details on how this special enrollment provision may affect your company’s opportunity to participate in the MBA Trust.

Definition of an Eligible Employee/Subscriber
An Eligible Employee/Subscriber is an active employee or owner of the company who:

• Has satisfied the company’s health insurance probationary period.
• Has met the company’s full-time employment requirement.
• Is paid on a regular, periodic basis through the company’s payroll system.
• Appears on the company’s quarterly report of wages filed with the State Employment Security or Unemployment Department (Form 5208A & B).

Ineligible participants include: Former Active Employees; Contract Employees; Independent Contractors or Sub-Contractors; Retirees; Part-time Employees; and Inactive or Retired Owners.

Companies establish their probationary period (zero to six-months) and full-time employment criteria (minimum 20 hours - maximum 40 hours per week) upon enrollment. Individuals meeting this definition are considered an “Eligible Employee/Subscriber.” This includes employees who may be covered by a spouse under another insurance plan.


Minimum Employee/Subscriber Participation Requirements
TThe MBA Trust is a “Group” insurance program designed to provide coverage for participating companies with 4 or more full-time, eligible employees, including active owners. Unlike individual plans, group plans require a specific percentage of all Eligible Employees/Subscribers to be covered on the plan. As a result, the “Minimum Employee/Subscriber Participation Requirements” outlined below are strictly enforced.

• Companies with 4–5 employees: 100% participation is required (all eligible employees/subscribers must enroll).
• Companies of 6–10 eligible full-time employees: 100% participation, less one, is required (one eligible employee/subscriber may waive coverage).
• Companies of 11 or more eligible full-time employees: 80% participation (Example: a company of 14 eligible employees / subscribers may waive coverage for a maximum of three employees).

Based on this criteria, if your company is eligible for employee waivers, employees (or active owners) waiving coverage must sign a “Waiver of Insurance Form”. These forms must be submitted to the Trust Administrator to be kept on file as this form includes information on Federal HIPAA regulations and special enrollment rights.


Please Note: Based on Washington State Law, companies with only one enrolled employee/subscriber at the time of renewal will not be eligible to renew their MBA Trust contract.

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