Biden's American Rescue Plan will lower health insurance costs for over 200,000 in Washington

03/12/2021

Media contact: Public Affairs, (360) 725-7055

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The American Rescue Plan Act dramatically expands access to free and low-cost health insurance for more than 200,000 people who get their health insurance through Washington’s Healthplanfinder, our state's Exchange.

“Despite the progress made under the Affordable Care Act, we know that too many families have struggled to afford critical health coverage, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “The American Rescue Plan Act makes good on a promise to provide more…

Sequim man pleads guilty to attempted insurance fraud charge

03/12/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Colin Walsh, of Sequim, Wash., pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court on Feb. 22 to one count of attempting to file a false insurance claim in connection with a renters insurance policy. He was sentenced to serve 364 days of confinement, which were suspended, 60 days of electronic home detention and 12 months of unsupervised probation. He must pay $2,320 in restitution and a $500 fine. 

Officials charged Walsh with one felony count of filing a false insurance claim in 2019 after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal…

Kreidler: Legislature can keep credit scoring ban proposal alive

03/10/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said the Legislature can still help consumers even though the state Senate did not advance his original proposal to ban the unfair use of credit scores. 

Kreidler said Senate designation of his original bill, SB 5010, as necessary to implement the state budget would allow it to receive full consideration in the Legislature. The bill did not  move out of the Senate by a March 9 deadline.

“I have my fingers crossed that legislators will still take action to help communities of color and individuals with low…

Former Bellevue attorney charged in connection with $1.8 million theft

03/09/2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Former attorney Patrick Kim was charged in King County Superior Court with three counts of first-degree theft and 10 counts of second-degree theft, all felonies, involving clients’ insurance settlements. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) investigated the case after a referral by the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). 

Kim was the managing partner at United Law Firm in Bellevue, Wash., until he resigned from the state bar in September 2017 after its investigation into his conduct. According to the WSBA, United Law…