News Archive

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler today announced that Jim Odiorne will return to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to serve as the new chief deputy commissioner. 

Odiorne previously served as Kreidler’s Chief Deputy from 2013 to 2018 before he retired. Prior to that he was Deputy Commissioner for Company Supervision from 1996 to 2013. He starts his new role on July 29.

“Jim is widely regarded by the insurance industry and OIC employees as an expert regulator and brings a breadth of experience and knowledge of the issues we face today”…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler fined Unite Health Share Ministries $300,000 on June 28, 2024 and ordered it to stop selling insurance in Washington state.  

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner opened an investigation after receiving a complaint that Unite Health had paid only $5,000 on a consumer’s medical claim. The consumer was left with almost $200,000 in medical bills.

“Protecting the people of Washington from predatory organizations is one of my office’s top priorities,” Kreidler said. “These companies promise coverage…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is urging insurance companies to extend the additional living expenses benefit for wildfire victims who are nearing their 12-month limit on that specific coverage. 

Additional living expenses coverage provides people the funds to pay for temporary housing while their primary residence is being rebuilt. Many policies have a clause that ends this coverage after  12 months. 

Kreidler also requested information from insurance companies on losses associated with the Gray and Oregon Road fires…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Thirteen health insurers filed an average requested rate increase of 11.3% for Washington's individual health insurance market. The proposed plans and their rates are currently under review and final decisions will be made this fall. 

"I recognize that any proposed increase in price is deeply upsetting to those struggling to pay for coverage today,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “People should know that these rates are not final and my office will be carefully reviewing each request to validate the assumptions being made by our state’s insurers. We…