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 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. – Thirteen health insurers have been approved to sell health plans in Washington state’s 2021 Exchange, Washington Healthplanfinder. This is the second consecutive year the average rate decreased by over 3%.   The Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board is scheduled to certify the approved plans at a meeting later today. Washington state’s Health Care Authority solicited bids for Cascade Care, the public options plans, and is working to sign contracts with the successful bidders.  Two insurers - Asuris Northwest Health and Health Alliance Northwest Health Plan - intend to…

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,…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is hosting a virtual Climate Summit on Oct. 7, 2020 to highlight the latest science, best practices being deployed in the private sector, and regulatory approaches to combating climate change. 

Climate Summit 2020 is half-day event and is free and open to the public. 

The keynote speaker is Fawn R. Sharp, president of the Quinault Indian Nation, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and the National Congress of American Indians. 

President Sharp is also a member of the We Are Still In Leaders…