Kreidler extends emergency order on telehealth coverage

04/30/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic. His order is in effect until May 30 and requires health insurers to:

Continue coverage for providing telehealth via methods including telephone and video chat tools such as Facetime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangout video, Skype and Go-to-Meeting.  Treat drive-up testing sites for COVID-19 as provider visits with no copay, coinsurance or deductible.…

Oak Harbor man will serve 45 days in jail for claiming theft of car he sold

04/30/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Arnold F. Bodner pleaded guilty to one count of filing a fraudulent insurance claim in Island County Superior Court in connection with an auto insurance claim. Bodner will serve 45 days in the Island County Jail starting May 1 and was ordered to pay $1,100 in fines and court fees.

Officials charged Bodner after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).  

According to Kreidler’s investigation, Bodner sold his 2006 Hummer H3 to an auto dealer in December 2018 for $4,000. In March 2019, he filed a claim…

Kreidler urges nation’s insurance commissioners to ban use of credit scores

04/28/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is urging his colleagues in other states to consider action to ban the use of consumers’ credit scores for determining insurance rates.    

Kreidler’s call for action follows a Thurston County Superior Court ruling on April 23 that allowed his emergency rule to temporarily ban the use of insurance credit scores to remain in effect. The decision denied an industry request for a preliminary injunction. 

Kreidler issued the emergency rule on March 23. It takes effect June 20. To comply, insurers…

Kreidler: Deadline is May 6 to comply with emergency rule on credit

04/27/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is reminding insurance companies of the May 6 deadline to file rating plans that comply with his emergency rule to temporarily prohibit the use of consumers' credit scores.   

A Thurston County Superior Court judge on April 23 allowed the emergency rule to remain in effect by denying an insurance industry request for a preliminary injunction. Judge Mary Sue Wilson found that industry associations challenging the rule were unlikely to succeed with their two main arguments that Kreidler lacked “good cause” and had…