BELLINGHAM, Wash. – As of July 1,  Whatcom Council on Aging, which operates the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, is the new Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) sponsor for Whatcom County.

A public service offered by the Washington state Office of Insurance Commissioner, SHIBA volunteers have been helping people on Medicare for more than 46 years. Over 230 trained volunteers statewide provide free, impartial, and confidential Medicare counseling and education to people in their communities about Medicare plans, prescription drug access, fraud and abuse, and…

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer’s office issued an emergency order suspending the license of a producer involved in Quick Health’s fraudulent health insurance business, the latest development in a case that prompted federal wire fraud charges from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

Kuderer’s office suspended the producer licenses for Benefits Now and its sole licensee, Tylor Trego, on June 17, 2025. 

The OIC found that Benefits Now continued the unauthorized insurance business of Quick Health, violated several insurance laws, and…

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…