Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act (HPHCA)

The Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act (HPHCA), originally passed in 1974 and reenacted in 1981, sets forth the minimum standards for healthcare benefits for Hawaiian employees. These rules affect all employers with at least 1 Hawaii resident employee working an average of 20 hours per week in a 4 week period. The HPHCA is exempted from ERISA.

Given that HPHCA regulations impose stricter rules for employers than the Affordable Care Act employer mandate and most other states, it’s important to be aware of the regulations and make a best effort to comply.