HI HB1545

Establishes a five-year voluntary portable health care benefit plan pilot program for nontraditional workers (gig workers, independent contractors, part-time employees, self-employed individuals) not covered by existing Hawaii employer-sponsored health care laws.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, with the Insurance Commissioner, to develop and administer the program offering high deductible health plans or catastrophic plans with core benefits including preventive care, telehealth, and mental health access.

Allows the state to issue premium subsidies and vouchers to eligible participants, with unused state contributions returning to the general fund if a beneficiary exits the program.

Protects companies from employer liability determinations based on voluntary contributions to portable health plans, preventing such contributions from being used as evidence of employment relationships for workers' compensation or unemployment benefits.

Requires annual reports to the legislature through 2030 and a final report in 2031 with recommendations on whether to extend or make the program permanent; program sunsets June 30, 2031.