News Archive

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer urged homeowners to consider fire threats and review their insurance policies with fire season approaching.

May is Wildfire Awareness Month, an opportunity for people, communities and agencies to take simple steps to reduce wildfire risk through mitigation and preparation.

“We’ve seen wildfire threats increasing for years as our summers get hotter and drier as a result of climate change,” Kuderer said. “That’s putting more people and their homes in danger, and May is the perfect time to make sure you’re…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer issued $510,500 in fines in the first four months of 2025 against insurance companies, agents, brokers and unlicensed entities for violating state insurance laws and regulations.

That included a $250,000 fine against an unlicensed insurer and a $30,000 fine for a company illegally selling pet insurance.

The OIC fined United Benefits Partnership Group (UBPG) $250,000 for acting as an unauthorized insurer by offering unqualified ERISA health plans.

The OIC…

April is National Volunteer Month, and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner is recognizing our more than 230 people who volunteer to help people understand Medicare through our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program. 

“For more than 45 years, our SHIBA volunteers have been making a difference in others’ lives all over Washington state,” said Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer. “They help people understand the complexities of Medicare and provide them with options that best meets their needs. We’re incredibly grateful for the work they do and for…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Substitute Senate Bill 5331, which would have authorized the state insurance commissioner to order an insurance company or person under OIC jurisdiction that violates state insurance laws to pay consumers back their money, failed to pass out of the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee on Wednesday. The bill also would have created fine enforcement parity among those same entities.

The bill was requested by Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer and prime sponsored by Senator Adrian Cortes (D - Battle Ground).  “The Senate passed a strong consumer…