Rule to protect gender-affirming medical treatment takes effect Jan. 1

12/28/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A rule to solidify access to gender-affirming health care in Washington state takes effect Jan. 1, 2022. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler adopted the rule on Nov. 30, 2021, which sets into state law the Gender Affirming Treatment Act (SB 5313), passed by the Washington state Legislature in 2021. 

The rule clarifies several aspects of the existing law to ensure medically necessary gender-affirming treatments are covered by health insurers. The wording in the rule previously allowed insurers to deny coverage in a way that subverted the intent of the law.…

Former Snohomish insurance agency owner sentenced in federal wire fraud

12/09/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Former insurance agent Vicki Boser, 58, of Snohomish, Wash., was sentenced to prison in federal court on Dec. 7 for wire fraud involving an insurance fraud case initiated by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) and investigated in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Boser owned and operated InsuranceTek, Inc., from 2003 until Kreidler revoked her license in 2017. 

Kreidler’s investigators found that Boser fraudulently signed policies on…

Kreidler asks insurers for more information on credit scores

12/06/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler sent a letter today to 136 insurers requesting specific information about consumers’ premiums after they removed credit as a rating factor. He took this action in response to testimony he heard from consumers during the public hearing on Nov. 23. In particular, he wants to fully understand the impact of this rule on homeowner, auto and renter insurance markets. Responses are due Dec. 20. 

“I heard testimony from people who saw their rates change as a result of this rule,” said Kreidler. “I am asking insurers to share data…

Kreidler extends emergency order on coronavirus testing and surprise billing to Dec. 29

11/22/2021

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 Dec. 29, 2021.

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