Kreidler orders health insurers to expand telehealth, testing coverage, extend premium grace periods

03/24/2020

Revised @ 6:30 p.m to clarify grace periods for exchange enrollees.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued a second emergency order (PDF, 282KB) directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic. His order is in effect for 60 days and requires health insurers to:

Expand coverage to additional methods (www.hhs.gov) for providing telehealth including telephone and video chat tools such as FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangout video, Skype and…

Kreidler calls on commercial labs to price fairly for coronavirus testing

03/11/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Last week, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler ordered all health plans he regulates to waive copays and deductibles for testing for the coronavirus, COVID-19. Now, as testing capacity expands and the federal government approves commercial labs to test for the illness, he is asking those labs to be mindful of what they charge. 

Kreidler is making this request in response to concerns from health insurers that by waiving copays and deductibles, they could be hit with excessive charges from the commercial labs doing the testing.  

“We are all in…

Kreidler orders Washington health insurers to waive deductibles, coinsurance and copays for coronavirus testing

03/05/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued an emergency order to Washington state health insurers requiring them to waive copays, coinsurance and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing (www.doh.wa.gov) for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Insurers also must: 

Allow a one-time early refill for prescription drugs. Suspend any prior authorization requirement for treatment or testing of COVID-19.

In addition, if an insurer does not have enough medical providers in its network to provide testing and treatment for COVID-19, it must allow enrollees…

Consumer alert: Kreidler’s advice for claims from flood damage

02/10/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Storms and flooding have hit Washington state hard over the last month. Unless people have flood insurance, they may not be covered for any damage caused by the latest weather systems. 

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has advice for consumers hit by the storms and for people wanting to protect themselves in the future.  

“Unfortunately, your typical homeowner or renter policy will not cover flood damage,” said Kreidler. “You must have a separate flood insurance policy. If you live in a flood zone, your lender may even require it, but if not,…