Court grants request for extended stay of credit scoring rule

03/31/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A Thurston County Superior Court judge granted an extended stay of Washington state’s rule temporarily banning credit scoring in personal lines of insurance, including auto, homeowner and renter insurance until all appeals are final.  

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and the parties, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) and the Association of Property and Casualty Insurers of America (APCIA), agreed to the extended stay to help provide stability for consumers and the insurance market as the credit scoring rule moves through the court…

Kreidler extends orders on coronavirus and surprise billing to April 28

03/24/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has extended two emergency orders. His order requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and his order protecting consumers from receiving surprise bills for lab fees related to medically necessary diagnostic testing for COVID-19 are both extended until April 28.

Kreidler's order waiving cost-sharing applies to all state-regulated health insurance plans and short-term, limited-duration medical plans. The order on…

Bill increasing surprise billing protections on its way to becoming law

03/09/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A bill increasing protections from surprise billing (HB 1688) has passed the Legislature and is on its way to Governor Inslee’s desk for signature. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler requested the legislation to help align Washington’s recent Balance Billing Protection Act with the new federal No Surprises Act that took effect on Jan. 1, 2022. 

“We heard so many heartbreaking stories from consumers about their battles with surprise medical bills,” said Commissioner Kreidler. “I’m incredibly proud of the bipartisan law we created several years ago and that…

Kreidler statement on media report of employee complaints

03/03/2022

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued the following statement about employee complaints against him as published in nwnewsnetwork.org today:

“I care about everyone who works with me at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. I deeply regret that some of my behavior and actions have taken attention away from the good work we do on behalf of insurance consumers. We hold each other to high standards, and I am not above those. Clearly, I have work to do. I have apologized to staff and I will be open to their feedback as I move forward. 

“I…