As used in WAC 284-43-5940 through 284-43-5980, the following terms have the following meaning:

(1) Auxiliary aids and services include:

(a) Qualified interpreters on-site or through video remote interpreting (VRI) services, as defined in 28 C.F.R. 35.104 and 36.303(b); note takers; real-time computer-aided transcription services; written materials; exchange of written notes; telephone handset amplifiers; assistive listening devices; assistive listening systems; telephones compatible with hearing aids; closed caption decoders; open and closed captioning, including real-time captioning; voice, text, and video-based telecommunication products and systems, text telephones (TTYs), videophones, and captioned telephones, or equally effective telecommunications devices; videotext displays; accessible electronic and information technology; or other effective methods of making aurally delivered information available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing;

(b) Qualified readers; taped texts; audio recordings; Braille materials and displays; screen reader software; magnification software; optical readers; secondary auditory programs; large print materials; accessible electronic and information technology; or other effective methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals who are blind or have low vision;

(c) Acquisition or modification of equipment and devices; and

(d) Other similar services and actions.

(2) Individual with limited-English proficiency means an individual whose primary language for communication is not English and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English.

(3) Language assistance services may include, but are not limited to:

(a) Oral language assistance, including interpretation in non-English languages provided in-person or remotely by a qualified interpreter for an individual with limited-English proficiency, and the use of qualified bilingual or multilingual staff to communicate directly with individuals with limited-English proficiency;

(b) Written translation, performed by a qualified translator, of written content in paper or electronic form into languages other than English; and

(c) Taglines.

(4) National origin includes, but is not limited to, an individual's, or his or her ancestor's, place of origin (such as country or world region) or an individual's manifestation of the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a national origin group.

(5) Plan means a nongrandfathered health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005, a plan deemed by the commissioner to have a short-term limited purpose or duration, or a plan deemed by the commissioner to be a student-only plan that is guaranteed renewable while the covered person is enrolled as a regular, full-time undergraduate student at an accredited higher education institution.

(6) Qualified bilingual/multilingual staff means a member of an issuer's workforce who is designated by the issuer to provide oral language assistance as part of the individual's current, assigned job responsibilities and who has demonstrated to the issuer that he or she:

(a) Is proficient in speaking and understanding both spoken English and at least one other spoken language, including any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology and phraseology; and

(b) Is able to effectively, accurately, and impartially communicate directly with individuals with limited-English proficiency in their primary languages.

(7) Qualified interpreter for an individual with a disability means an interpreter who via a remote interpreting service or an on-site appearance:

(a) Adheres to generally accepted interpreter ethics principles, including client confidentiality; and

(b) Is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology and phraseology.

For an individual with a disability, qualified interpreters can include, for example, sign language interpreters, oral transliterators (individuals who represent or spell in the characters of another alphabet), and cued language transliterators (individuals who represent or spell by using a small number of handshapes).

(8) Qualified interpreter for an individual with limited-English proficiency means an interpreter who via a remote interpreting service or an on-site appearance:

(a) Adheres to generally accepted interpreter ethics principles, including client confidentiality;

(b) Has demonstrated proficiency in speaking and understanding both spoken English and at least one other spoken language; and

(c) Is able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressly, to and from such language(s) and English, using any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology and phraseology.

(9) Qualified translator means a translator who:

(a) Adheres to generally accepted translator ethics principles, including client confidentiality;

(b) Has demonstrated proficiency in writing and understanding both written English and at least one other written non-English language; and

(c) Is able to translate effectively, accurately, and impartially to and from such language(s) and English, using any necessary specialized vocabulary, terminology and phraseology.

(10) Taglines mean short statements written in non-English languages that indicate the availability of language assistance services free of charge and how to obtain them.