OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines totaling $302,500 against insurance companies, agents, brokers and unlicensed entities in July, August and September of 2024 for violations of state insurance laws and regulations.
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News from the Commissioner
Ten insurers approved to sell health insurance to small businesses in 2025
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Ten health insurers have been approved to sell group health plans to small employers in 2025.
Insurers requested an average premium increase of 11.9%, which was approved. The new rates take effect after Jan. 1, 2025, when the employer's plan renews.
About half of small employers nationwide offer their employees health insurance. Nationally, 53% of small employers offer health insurance to their employees.
Medicare open enrollment is Oct. 15- Dec. 7
OLYMPIA, WA – Medicare’s annual open enrollment period starts Tuesday, Oct. 15 and runs through Saturday, Dec. 7. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program can help you review your plan options.
Open enrollment is the time to review your current coverage and decide if there are better options for you based on changes to your current plan, your budget or your health needs. If you think you want to make a switch or if you’ve been notified that your plan is discontinued, start reviewing your options now.
CIU arrests suspect from the Insurance Fraud Most Wanted list
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A woman from Everett who failed to appear for her arraignment and was added to Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Insurance Fraud Most Wanted list was arrested on September 6, 2024.
Shawndlyn Williams, who also goes by Shawndlyn Dyson, was charged by the King County Prosecutor’s Office with one count of filing a fraudulent insurance claim. She failed to appear at her arraignment and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest in 2022.
OIC awarded $620,000 federal grant to boost women’s reproductive and maternal health
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced on Tuesday that his office has received a $620,000 Expanding Access to Women’s Health grant provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The two-year grant provides states with funding to enhance and expand access to reproductive and maternal health coverage and services.
Kreidler orders 911-Dry to stop waiving deductibles
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has ordered 911-Dry LLC to stop offering to pay customers’ insurance deductibles.
The general contractor, based in Bellingham, provides loss and mitigation services on claims made under insurance policies. The 911-Dry website states the company processes claims on behalf of customers, advertises direct insurance billing, and offers up to $2,500 in “deductible assistance.”
Kreidler fines LifeWise, Evolent $225,000 for illegal claim denials
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler fined LifeWise Health Plan of Washington and Evolent Health LLC a total of $225,000 for incorrectly processing, and automatically denying, health insurance claims based on the patient’s gender.
Average 10.7% rate increase approved for 2025 individual health insurance market
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) announced today that 11 health insurers have been approved to sell in Washington's 2025 Exchange health insurance market. The approved average rate increase of 10.7% is lower than the 11.3% average increase requested.
Rates and plans for two additional insurers that only sell outside of the Exchange (Asuris Northwest Health and Providence Health Plan) are still pending.
New report offers options for improving the affordability of health care in Washington state
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) issued a new report today (PDF, 3.20MB) studying five potential policy options that could make health care more affordable in Washington state. The report, delivered to the state Legislature, uses pricing data to provide an economic and actuarial analysis of each policy option that estimates savings for consumers, organizations and the state’s economy.
Three insurance fraudsters plead guilty after investigations by Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Three suspects pleaded guilty to insurance fraud in May and June after investigations by Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit.
The fraud cases included a suspect from Qatar who had been on Kreidler’s Insurance Fraud Most Wanted list since 2013, a home burglary claim with falsified items, and an auto policy purchased after a collision.