LIFE INSURANCE 2018

Families displaced from their homes due to wildfire evacuations may be eligible to be reimbursed for their additional living expenses if their insurance policy provides for such claims. Examples of those expenses include lodging, meals and purchasing toiletries if a consumer is displaced by the wildfire or as a result of an evacuation order. One of several Blackhawk helicopters that is fighting wildfires in Eastern Washington. Photo courtesy of Washington state Emergency Management Division.  Consumers in several areas in Eastern Washington have been ordered to evacuate at different points during the wildfires. We are hearing reports that some insurance companies are requiring consumers to provide a copy of the municipality’s emergency evacuation order before they will pay for additional living expenses. There is nothing in state laws or rules that prohibits an insurance company from asking for this information. If you need a copy of an evacuation order, contact the emergency manag...

OIC is seeking a highly motivated IT Specialist 5 (IT Security/ Network/ Server Administrator) in our Tumwater headquarters. The IT Specialist 5 is the lead IT security specialist for the agency and is responsible for planning, designing, configuring and supporting the agency’s network infrastructure and servers. The ideal candidate must have strong knowledge of IT network and server infrastructure, Microsoft Active Directory, LAN/WAN administration, configuring network hardware and software and enterprise backup software. OIC supports employees through regular training and opportunities to implement new technologies and participate on multiple projects teams. We also offer tuition reimbursement, free parking and participate in the state's commute trip reduction program. If you are interested in joining our team, view this and other jobs at OIC .

More than 780,000 acres have burned in 11 counties and tribal lands in Eastern Washington. President Obama has signed an Emergency Declaration that authorizes FEMA to assist with equipment and resources. The fires have claimed an estimated 80 homes and displaced families and affected agriculture, businesses and countless communities. The weather forecast calls for rain over the weekend, but there's also a possibility of lightning in some areas. Several of the fires were started by lightning. A photo from a wildfire in Wenatchee in July 2015 (OIC photo) The Insurance Commissioner’s website has information for consumers about wildfires and homeowner’s insurance , including things you should talk to your insurance agent about and tips for protecting your home and belongings. We also have tips for filing a claim after a natural disaster and how to find disaster resources. Here are resources from other agencies: Follow news about the fires on Twitter at #WaWILDFIRE . The Washington D...

A $1.6 million grant and expansion of a Tacoma-area golf course that is a second home for many wounded veterans took center stage Aug. 18 at an event focused on the importance of mental health counseling services. Commissioner Kreidler joined veterans, their families and representatives of the United Health Foundation in the gathering at the American Lakes Golf Course in Pierce County. The event centered around the presentation of a $1.6 million grant to benefit "Give an Hour," a national nonprofit organization providing free confidential  mental health services to military members and their families.  The award from the United Health Foundation will be split between Tacoma and Houston. The grant will help "Give an Hour" raise awareness of available programs, grow its mental health care provider network, and help veterans and their families access services. "No one deserves more than those who wear the uniform," said the commissioner, a retired Lt. Colonel...

Over 40 wildfires are burning in 11 counties in Eastern Washington lands of the Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, causing Gov. Inslee to request a Federal Emergency Declaration.  Our hearts go out to the families of the three firefighters  who lost their lives in the fight to save the town of Twisp and to the other firefighters who were injured. These fires have claimed more than 50 homes and over 235,000 acres of land. Several communities are under evacuation orders. Weather conditions over the next few days will create the potential for these fires to spread to neighboring communities.  Follow news about the fires on Twitter using #WaWILDFIRE . The Insurance Commissioner’s website has information for consumers about wildfires and homeowner’s insurance , including things you should talk to your insurance agent about and tips for protecting your home and belongings. We also have tips for filin...

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has clarified to insurance companies in Washington that mental-health services must now be offered in parity with medical services. The commissioner updated rules on mental-health parity in 2014 and asked insurers to review previous mental-health claims that had been denied under a blanket exclusion. He asked insurers to rectify those denials. The need for clarification arose after a consumer filed a complaint with our office after being denied for residential mental-health treatment. The individual said this violated federal laws regarding mental-health parity. The federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires insurers in Washington to provide residential mental-health benefits to consumers on par with similar medical health benefits. Most insurers were already providing the mental-health services on par with medical services. The consumer complaint prompted further clarifica...

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) is hiring for six part-time, non-permanent Customer Service Specialist 1 positions. The positions are located in our Tumwater headquarters and are expected to work 20-30 hours per week. The expected duration of the appointments is four months, starting September 2015. The positions provide customer service and technical assistance to the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) staff and volunteers surrounding the annual Medicare open enrollment period. The positions also assist in answering phone calls and consumer questions regarding their Medicare Part D options. Duties of the positions include, but are not limited to: Assisting consumers by telephone or email regarding technical questions or concerns regarding Medicare enrollment, coverage and options.  Explaining to consumers available outreach, workshop and public media events in their communities. Providing information about services available through the OIC, esp...

According to a Gallup poll released today , Washington is one of five states to exceed a 10 percent drop in the number of uninsured people. Seven of the 10 states with the biggest reductions have two things in common: they expanded Medicaid (called Apple Health in Washington) and established a state-based health exchange (ours is called Washington Healthplanfinder ). Washington state has seen record-low rate requests from health insurers in the past two years. Insurers proposed an average 5.4 percent increase for 2016. These plans are now under review and the average rate increase is likely to be lower. For 2015 plans, insurers proposed an average rate increase of 8 percent. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler eventually approved an average 1.5 percent rate increase. "I'm pleased to see the health insurers show an increased interest in the individual market and to see rates continue to come in relatively low,” Kreidler said when the 2016 rates were submitted in May of this y...

Some Washington residents are receiving mailers from National Processing Center advertising a “state-regulated life insurance program to pay Final Expenses for just pennies a day…  Return this card today and you will receive the latest information on how this Special Program will pay 100% of all funeral expenses not paid by government funds, up to $25,000 (TAX FREE), for each Washington citizen covered.” This is a mail phishing scam and we are alerting consumers to not return the card or provide any personal information. Here’s what the mailer looks like: Here are some red flags we identified in this mailer that consumers should be aware of: The mailer doesn’t identify the name of the insurance company. The mailer doesn’t give an agent or broker to contact. The card gets returned to “National Processing Center,” which is not an insurance company. The mailer gives no information about the policy. The Virginia Better Business Bureau issued a consumer alert about the mailings in 2013 ...

Consumer Reports recently reported on auto insurance premiums and rates , and is doing a social media campaign to raise awareness of the issue. They found that auto insurers use factors like your credit score, shopping habits and a loyalty penalty –your tolerance for rate hikes--when setting your insurance rates. The publication is urging consumers to contact state insurance regulators like Commissioner Kreidler to voice their support for premiums that are based on driving behavior. Kreidler has long advocated for abolishing credit scoring , which is the practice of using consumers’ credit scores to set rates. In 2002, it was his top legislative priority; the state Legislature did not support a complete ban on credit scoring but it did restrict the use of consumers’ credit history in personal insurance rates. However, the use of credit history by insurers is not illegal and was in fact authorized by the federal government in the 1970 Fair Credit Reporting Act. More recently, Kreidler i...

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is alerting Washington consumers to be wary of any solicitation from the Pay My Deductible Club, which offers to pay your auto insurance deductible if you are involved in an accident. Several payment options, including a lifetime membership, are offered to join the club and become eligible for the deductible payments. The company claims to be based in Beverly Hills, CA. However, the firm is not licensed in Washington and is not authorized to do business here. Although the company claims its deductible benefit is not insurance, the commissioner sees otherwise. To offer this product in Washington, the firm would need to apply for and receive approval to operate as a property and casualty company. Other states have also alerted consumers about Pay My Deductible. Some tips to consider if you do receive a solicitation from Pay My Deductible or any other company seeking to sell you an insurance product or one that sounds like it could be insurance: Check...