Leong Ex Rel. Leong v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

WAKATSUKI, J.

Chapter 87, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) establishes the Public Employees Health Fund (Health Fund). One of the primary duties of the Health Fund is to contract with health insurance carriers for group health benefit plans for public employees. HRS § 87-22 (Supp. 1989). Individual public employees are given the option of enrolling in one of several group health care plans offered through the Health Fund.

Ernest Leong, an employee of the State of Hawaii in 1971, enrolled himself and his wife in the Kaiser Plan which provides comprehensive medical care and…