News Archive

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability rule on June 20, making it harder for consumers who buy health plans through our Exchange, Washington Healthplanfinder, to get and keep affordable health coverage. 

“It’s clear to me that the Trump administration does not care about helping people find and keep affordable, meaningful health insurance,” said Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer. “It wants to restrict both who gets covered and the medically necessary…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Fourteen health insurers have requested an average rate change of 21.2% for Washington state's 2026 Individual Health Insurance Market. Insurers base their requested rate changes on assumptions they make about the services their policyholders will use and the cost to deliver that care. The health plans and proposed rate changes are currently under review by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

Wellpoint Washington, Inc. is new to the market and plans to sell in Grays Harbor, King and Spokane counties. 

A factor impacting the requested increase this…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer spent May 14 and 15 in Washington, D.C., with her fellow state insurance regulators to discuss insurance regulatory priorities with members of Congress during the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) 2025 Commissioner Fly-In.  

The annual Commissioner Fly-In brings together insurance regulators and their congressional delegations. While on Capitol Hill, regulators brief lawmakers on insurance regulatory efforts and advance state and NAIC priorities developed to protect consumers and…

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…