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Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

2011 Legislative Session in Review

The state budget again dominated the legislature's attention in 2011 as revenue declined for the third year in a row. Despite a challenging legislative environment Commissioner Kreidler was successful in securing passage of some significant protections for insurance consumers, while at the same time preserving intact his agency's operational capability.

 

Key Legislative Accomplishments

  • Health insurance rate transparency - HB 1301. Commissioner Kreidler fought long and hard to secure passage of this bill so consumers will be able to see and comment upon rate filings.
  • Health insurance rate review - HB 1303. This bill preserved the commissioner's authority to review rates for individual health plans.
  • Implementing federal health care reform - SB 5122. As federal health care reform becomes the law of the land, our state's laws protecting consumers must be brought current.
  • Insurer investment modernization - HB 1257. Laws regulating insurance investments are modernized to reflect advances in the understanding of managing investment risk while optimizing returns to benefit rate payers. The commissioner's authority to intervene in investment practices of a company with weakening finances is also enhanced by the bill.

Here's more information about OIC request legislation for 2011.

 




Updated 12/21/2011

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