OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order again, directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic. His order is in effect until Nov. 13 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. Cover all medically necessary diagnostic testing for flu and certain other viral respiratory…News Archive
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OLYMPIA, Wash. – Tomorrow marks the start of Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period – also called the Annual Election Period, which runs each year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. During this time, people on Medicare can:
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan and vice versa. Drop or switch a Part D prescription drug plan, if you have Original Medicare. Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan.The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program – part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner – is ready to help with all of these decisions. To…
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 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 Oct. 25.
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…
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The following statement from Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is in response to President Trump’s announcement about claiming to protect Americans with pre-existing medical conditions:
“President Trump’s claim that he will protect people with pre-existing conditions from being denied health insurance is again dishonest and outrageous.
“The awful truth is this: He and his Republican Party filed a case now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act and the very protections he claims to support. If successful,…