News Archive

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Michael T. Kerwin, of Spokane, has been added to Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s insurance fraud most wanted after he failed to appear in Spokane County Superior Court to face two felony charges related to an auto insurance fraud investigation. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued on Dec. 22, 2021, and bail is set for $5,000.    

Kerwin was charged in November 2021 with filing a false insurance claim and first-degree theft after an investigation by Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU). According…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is requesting legislation to align Washington state’s recent Balance Billing Protection Act with the new federal No Surprises Act that took effect on Jan. 1, 2022. House Bill 1688 has bipartisan support and was heard before the House Health Care and Wellness Committee earlier today. 

“We heard so many heartbreaking stories from consumers about their battles with surprise medical bills,” said Commissioner Kreidler. “I’m incredibly proud of the bipartisan law we created and that the federal government followed in our…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler sent another letter today to insurers providing them with additional time to respond to his request for specific information about consumers’ premiums after they removed credit as a rating factor for auto, homeowners and renters insurance.

Twelve companies representing 5.2% of the auto insurance market responded to his initial request for specific data on how removing credit impacted their policyholders.  “I’m extremely disappointed that the majority of insurance companies are not being transparent with me or the people of…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19 are both extended until Jan. 28.

Kreidler's order waiving cost-sharing applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term, limited-duration medical plans. The order on…