News Archive

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 Nov. 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…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler today announced that Mark Dietzler will serve as the agency’s new chief deputy commissioner. 

Dietzler joins the office after serving as a managing attorney at Liberty Mutual Group, Inc. While there, he was responsible for an active caseload of 1,250 litigated files and a $6 million budget. He also brings significant jury trial and management experience to the agency.

“Mark’s knowledge will serve the consumers in our state well,” Kreidler said. “Mark also brings strong leadership experience that will be an asset in…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler will seek an effective date of Jan. 1, 2022, for a permanent rule to temporarily ban the use of credit scores for insurance policies for three years. 

A public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for Nov. 23. Kreidler rejected a recent call from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies to abandon his commitment.

The lobbying groups made the request after a Thurston County Superior Court on Oct. 8 issued a narrow ruling against an emergency…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Christopher Michalke, of Seattle, was charged in King County Superior Court with one felony count of filing a false insurance claim for a $14,753 Rolex watch after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU). Michalke is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 25 for a hearing.

According to the investigation, Michalke bought a “valuable personal property” insurance rider from USAA in August 2019 to cover his Rolex Submariner watch that he bought in 2018 for $14,753. On…