LIFE INSURANCE 2018

An OIC consumer advocate helps a caller with an insurance question.  A big part of what we do is to help protect consumers from financial harm. In 2016, our consumer advocates: Fielded 7,195 consumer complaints and helped recover $11.3 million for consumers.  Answered 67,405 calls to our consumer hotline.  Responded to 5,449 written inquiries from consumers.  Responded to 1,676 consumers via our live-chat feature on our website, which started in March.  Mailed 1,905 insurance publications to consumers who requested them.  Our consumer advocates can help you: Answer questions about home, auto, health, life, annuities, business and other insurance.  Understand your insurance rights, including your health insurance appeal rights and the process.  Look into complaints against insurance companies.  Find information about your insurance options.  Verify if an agent, agency, or company is authorized to sell insurance in Washington state. We sha...

The Washington state Traffic Safety Commission released a report this week that revealed some somber statistics: Nearly 1 in 10 drivers in motion was distracted by something – 9.2 percent Most of the distractions were an electronic device – 6.9 percent The remainder were distracted by children, their radio, eating, or something else.  The distraction rate increased by half in drivers who were stopped at an intersection – jumping to 14.2 percent. That’s the kind of thing that can lead to higher insurance premiums and worse – death. The report observed more than 22,000 drivers in 23 Washington counties during 2016. It’s the first report of its kind by the commission and will serve as a benchmark for future annual reports. These numbers are important because distracted drivers cause collisions. The commission’s most recent collision report, from 2014, shows that distracted drivers crash every 12 minutes. Distraction was a factor in 40 percent of all collisions, the single most freque...

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule this week that could significantly affect health insurance plans for 2018. We are working closely with our health care stakeholders , including health insurers, medical providers and consumer advocates, to ensure that any proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA/Obamacare) do not harm our state’s stable health insurance market. The federal government's 71-page proposed rule contains several approaches to market stability. We are evaluating the regulations for their effect on Washington state law and our market. One option in the proposal would shorten the annual enrollment period for consumers from three months to six weeks. All states have been asked to provide comments on the proposed rule by March 7 – a quick turnaround. Our analysis will consider Commissioner Kreidler’s three key values for any changes to the ACA: No reduction in people covered by insurance. No reduction in benefit levels or...

KING 5 recently reported on a little-known database called CLUE—Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange—that can affect consumers’ property and auto insurance rates without their knowledge. KING 5 interviewed a consumer named Mike Schultz whose auto insurance rates went up because of an error in his CLUE report. After doing some digging, he found out that his CLUE report erroneously listed a collision that he witnessed, but was not involved in. So what should consumers know about CLUE? It’s a report generated by LexisNexis that contains up to seven years of your personal auto and property claims history. The data comes from insurance companies when they close claims you file. Insurance companies review the CLUE data and use it to set the rates they charge you. You have the right to request a free copy of your report: LexisNexis, Consumer Center 866-312-8076 Request your personal report online If you find mistakes in your CLUE report that you want to dispute, contact LexisNexis Consum...

The OIC and AARP are hosting a free event in Puyallup on Feb. 15 where people can learn ways to avoid becoming victims of fraud. Where:  Pioneer Park Pavilion, 330 S. Meridian, Puyallup WA 98371 When : Wednesday, Feb. 15 Free breakfast starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by presentations and free Medicare counseling.  The event wraps up at 1:20 p.m. Who: Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler will speak first, at 10 a.m.  Other organizations that will be there include: OIC's  Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) OIC's Criminal Investigations Unit Office of the Attorney General Department of Labor and Industries Department of Financial Institutions AARP of Washington Sound Outreach Better Business Bureau of the Northwest Consumer Protection Washington  Seating is limited -- registration is required! To register: Call: 1-888-902-3011, extension 7456  Online: www.sendrsvp.com/7456

Many people don’t know that the Office of the Insurance Commissioner investigates criminal insurance fraud, much of which is referred to us by insurance companies themselves. The work is done by the OIC’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU), staffed by law enforcement and criminal analysts. They refer the results of their investigations to state and local prosecutors, who bring charges against the people who are suspected of committing the fraud. CIU staff conduct a search during an insurance fraud investigation In 2015 and 2016, the CIU: Received 3,571 referrals, which are questionable insurance cases that consumers and the insurance industry send to us to review. Opened 150 criminal fraud cases. Submitted 52 cases to a prosecutor. Had 40 criminal cases charged; 37 of those were heard before a judge. Had 44 convictions for various crimes. Saved $3.6 million in immediate and projected insurance claim payouts. These efforts resulted in $857,353 of restitution ordered paid back to victim...