LIFE INSURANCE 2018

Beginning July 23, it will be against the law for Washington drivers to use hand-held electronics while they are driving. This includes all electronic devices—cell phones, tablets, laptops and video games. Tickets for driving while using hand-held electronics will go on your record and be reported to your insurance company. A Driving Under the Influence of Electronics ticket, an E-DUI, will cost more than before. All violations will be available to your insurance company and may lead to premium increases. Tickets will cost: First E-DUI: $136 Second E-DUI (within five years): $234 The new law was enacted by the state Legislature this year. The original bill was sponsored by Sens. Ann Rivers, Marko Liias, Reuven Carlyle and Patty Kuderer. According to the Washington state Traffic Safety Commission , fatalities from distracted driving increased 32 percent from 2014 to 2015 in Washington, and one-quarter of all crashes involved a cell phone in use just prior to the crash. The commission’s ...

The following is Commissioner Kreidler's take on the latest version of the Republican Senate’s health care bill: The "new" version of the Senate's health care bill released yesterday is just as bad – if not worse -- as the previous version. Touted as the “Better Care Reconciliation Act,” the bill does nothing to live up to its title. If enacted as is, the legislation would drive up costs for lower-income and older individuals, severely weaken consumer protections and leave more people uninsured. It would also create separate risk pools that could lead to collapse of individual health markets throughout the land. Cancer patients would be among those most negatively affected by weakened protections. All of this despite numerous recommendations from insurance commissioners across the country on how to reform health care. Key among the suggestions: shore up the health care markets immediately. There’s no doubt...