Kreidler issues $111,000 in fines for violations in October

11/17/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines in October totaling $111,000 against insurance companies, agents and brokers who violated state insurance regulations.

Insurance companies

AmGUARD Insurance Company, Wilkes Barre, Penn.; fined $30,000 (order 22-0548).

AmGUARD failed to provide timely payment to a consumer who filed a claim after their apartment building was damaged. The consumer eventually filed suit under the Insurance Fair Claims Act (IFCA) and a judge’s partial summary judgement found AmGUARD to have engaged in unfair trade practices.…

Kreidler Fines Sedera $50,000 for providing unauthorized health care services

11/14/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Sedera, Inc. has settled its case with Insurance Commissioner Mike Kriedler. Kreidler issued a $50,000 fine against Sedera for acting as an unauthorized insurer.

The fine must be paid by November 18, 2022. The company will also stop conducting medical cost sharing transactions in Washington, according to the terms in the order.

Kreidler’s office investigated Sedera from 2017 to 2019. Sedera, marketing itself as a medical cost sharing community, sold memberships to Washington consumers with a monthly fee. Members agreed to guidelines that determined their…

Bench warrant issued for Port Angeles man after he fails to appear in court

11/09/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Kacee Lee Garner, of Port Angeles, Wash., has been added to Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Insurance Fraud Most Wanted list (insurance.wa.gov) after being charged with insurance fraud.

If you have information that may lead to his arrest, please contact your local law enforcement agency or contact Kreidler's Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).

Kacee Lee Garner was charged by Clallam County Prosecutor’s Office with attempted theft in the first degree and false claims or proof. He failed to appear at his…

Emergency orders on insurance coverage and COVID-19 expire Oct. 31

10/25/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Three emergency orders issued by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler related to insurance coverage and COVID-19 expire on Oct. 31.  The orders requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for COVID-19, protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing and requiring insurers to cover COVID-19 vaccine counseling all expire when Washington state's state of emergency ends.  

Kreidler's order waiving cost-sharing applied to all state-…