Legislative priorities for 2009
Health care
Commissioner Kreidler’s primary focus this session is on improving health care in Washington state. His Guaranteed Health Benefit Plan would provide catastrophic coverage and key preventive care to all Washington residents.
He also will request the following changes:
Organ transplant (77 KB) – This bill would protect people who need organ transplants if they switch insurance plans. Read the Commissioner's testimony. - Discount plans (89 KB) – This bill would allow us to regulate this market and ensure that consumers understand what they are buying. Read the Commissioner's testimony.
Protection in an emergency
Another priority is protecting consumers in the event of an emergency. To achieve that, the Commissioner will ask the Legislature to pass these bills:
- Flood disclosure (106 KB) – This bill would ensure that consumers understand that flood insurance is not included in homeowners’ policies and tell them where to get it.
- Business continuity (106 KB) – This bill would require insurers to be prepared and have a continuity plan in case an emergency disrupts business.
- Emergency powers (106 KB) – This bill would require insurers to make reasonable exceptions, such as grace periods for payments and access to out-of-network medical care, in the event of an emergency.
Other requests
- Licensing reform (94 KB) – This bill would support the Insurance Commissioner’s effort to modernize the licensing of insurance producers.
- Annuities (90 KB) – This bill would ensure consumers understand what they are buying and that a product is a good fit. Read the Commissioner's testimony.
- Technical fixes – This bill would clarify existing laws.
More resources
Legislative agenda with links to bill language (30 KB)
Check the status of a bill (www.leg.wa.gov)
Archives
2008 legislative wrap-up
2007 legislative wrap-up
2006 legislative wrap-up
2005 legislative wrap-up
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