Agency history
The first state legislature created the Office of the Insurance Commissioner during the 1889-1890 session. At first, we were part of the Secretary of State’s office and our main function was simply to register insurance companies that wanted to do business in Washington.
In 1907, we became a separate agency and the people of Washington elected their first insurance commissioner. Commissioners are elected every four years.
Over the years, the commissioner’s scope has really increased. We still register insurance companies, but we also:
- Answer insurance-related questions from the public.
- Investigate complaints from insurance customers.
- Make sure insurance companies meet stringent financial and legal requirements.
- License individuals who sell insurance.
Mike Kreidler is the eighth insurance commissioner for the state of Washington. He was first elected in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004. During his service, he has:
- Cut excessive insurance rate increases by $200 million.
- Helped individual consumers recover more than $107 million in delayed payments on their insurance policies.
- Won passage of legislation to restore regulation of individual health insurance policies.
- Restored bankrupt malpractice and health carriers to financial solvency.
- Blocked the attempt by Premera/Blue Cross to abandon nonprofit status.
- Regained national accreditation for the office.
- Successfully fought attempts by big out-of-state insurance companies to strip consumers of their legal protections.
Some files on this website require a free reader. Download a free reader.