Short answer: Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act requires employers to cover employees working 20+ hours a week, pay at least half the premium, and cap the employee’s share at 1.5% of wages; stricter than federal rules.
Hawaii is unique: since 1974 its Prepaid Health Care Act has required most employers to offer coverage to any employee working 20 or more hours per week (versus 30 hours federally). The employer must pay at least half the premium, and the employee’s share of the single premium can’t exceed 1.5% of wages. These rules sit on top of the ACA, so Hawaii small groups face tighter eligibility and contribution standards than employers elsewhere.