Commissioners Kreidler, Lara urge insurers to report climate risks through international financial stability framework

06/08/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash./LOS ANGELES – Insurance Commissioners Mike Kreidler of Washington and Ricardo Lara of California formally asked all insurers (PDF, 38MB) that are currently required to report to them annually on climate change to start reporting their climate risks in alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). TCFD is rapidly becoming the global standard for such reporting for all industries worldwide. 

Commissioners Kreidler and Lara are among the state insurance regulators who have required insurers to disclose their climate risk…

Fifteen health insurers request average rate increase of 5.47% for Washington’s individual market

06/01/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Fifteen health insurers filed an average proposed rate increase of 5.47% for Washington's individual health insurance market. The plans and proposed rates are currently under review and final decisions will come this fall. 

"Access to meaningful and affordable health coverage has always been critical to our lives and our economy, but no more so than this year," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. "I'm incredibly proud of the efforts our state made to help people find coverage, through outreach and opening special enrollment periods. We took regulatory action…

Kreidler extends emergency order on telehealth to June 27

05/28/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic. His order is in effect until June 27 and requires health insurers to:

Continue coverage for providing telehealth via methods including telephone and video chat tools such as Facetime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangout video, Skype and Go-to-Meeting.  Treat drive-up testing sites for COVID-19 as provider visits with no copay, coinsurance or…

Kreidler extends orders on coronavirus and surprise billing to June 13

05/14/2021

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 June 13, 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 surprise billing applies…