OLYMPIA, Wash. — A report submitted to the Washington State Legislature on Thursday details the state of the insurance market for housing providers receiving funding from the state’s Housing Trust Fund program and offers 12 potential policy options for improving their insurance costs.
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News from the Commissioner
Kreidler fines PacificSource $100,000 for incorrectly processing claims
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines totaling $576,500 against insurance companies, agents, brokers and unlicensed entities in October and November of 2024 for violations of state insurance laws and regulations.
This included $100,000 levied against PacificSource Health Plans for incorrectly processing claims; $130,000 in fines against Delta Dental and its health care benefits manager, Wyssta; and a $100,000 fine against Lemonade Insurance Company.
Kreidler’s CIU accredited for highest professional standards of policing
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) has completed an accreditation program that certifies it is operating under best practices and standards for law enforcement.
The program is administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) and involves a seven-phase process over several months.
“We are proud to be accredited by WASPC,” said CIU Director Bruce Lantz. “It means our department has achieved the highest professional standards for policing.”
Federal Way woman wanted after failing to appear in court
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Yelena Gruy, from Federal Way, joined Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s insurance fraud most wanted list after she failed to appear at her arraignment.
Gruy faces a felony charge for filing a false insurance claim. A warrant was issued for her arrest on Oct. 17, 2024, after an investigation by Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit and charges filed by the King County Prosecutor's Office.
Jury finds Seattle man guilty of insurance fraud after “crash and buy” scam
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Saleem Robinson, of Seattle, was found guilty of two felonies after his “crash and buy” scam was investigated by Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU).
Pro fighter wanted on insurance fraud charges in Benton County for the second time
Changes to the premium transparency rule to be considered
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is considering a change to the state’s recently adopted premium change transparency rule.
The change would be specific to Phase 2 of the rule — the automatic inclusion of reasons for premium increases in policy renewals — and would move the timing of that action from June 2027 to June 2029.
Phase 1, which went into effect this June, requires insurance companies to disclose to policyholders why their premiums had gone up when asked by the consumer.
Individual health insurance market open enrollment starts November 1
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Open enrollment for Washington’s 2025 individual health insurance market starts Friday, Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15, 2025.
If you need a health plan for yourself or your family or want to change coverage, your chance to compare plans starts this week. To have coverage in place on Jan. 1, you must enroll by Dec. 15.
Most Gray and Oregon Road fire victims were under-insured
OLYMPIA, Wash. — An analysis of the insurance claims paid out after the Gray and Oregon Road fires shows that most of the homes destroyed were under-insured.
The fires burned more than 20,000 acres, and destroyed 366 homes, outside of Spokane in August of 2023.
Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s office initiated a data call in June of 2024 to collect information from insurance companies that had a loss associated with the fires.
Washington expands essential health benefits, adding human donor milk, hearing aids, and artificial insemination
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has announced that expanded coverage for human donor milk, hearing aids and artificial insemination will be included in the state’s essential health benefits plan.
Some benefits were also revised to ensure plans do not discriminate based on disabilities or health conditions. The changes take effect in plan years starting on or after January 1, 2026.
The benefits include: