We're here to protect insurance consumers
Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

About us

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner, headed by Commissioner Mike Kreidler, oversees Washington's insurance industry to make sure that companies, agents and brokers follow the rules and to protect consumers.

We are not funded by state public tax dollars. Insurers pay an administrative fee to cover our costs.

With about 200 employees, we are one of the smaller state agencies, but we cover a lot of ground:

  • Answering questions and investigating problems for tens of thousands of consumers each year.
  • Recovering money for consumers with insurance disputes or delays. In 2010, we recovered more than $9 million.
  • Licensing and auditing the 56 insurers based in Washington -- and monitoring the other 2,144 that do business here.
  • Testing, licensing and monitoring the more than 118,000 individuals and businesses that sell insurance here.
  • Collecting about $900 million a biennium for the state’s general operating budget.
  • Maintaining a statewide network of volunteers who advise thousands of consumers on health care issues.

Mission Statement

We protect consumers, the public interest, and our state’s economy through fair and efficient regulation of the insurance industry. 

History

Washington's first state legislature created the office during the 1889-1890 session.

At first, we were part of the Secretary of State’s office. Our main function was to register insurers doing business in Washington.

In 1907, we became a separate agency and the people of Washington elected their first insurance commissioner. Insurance commissioners are elected every four years.



 




Updated 12/14/2011

Tell a friend |