Kreidler extends emergency order waiving cost-sharing for coronavirus testing until Aug. 27

07/29/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler extended his emergency order  to Aug. 27 requiring health insurers to waive copays and deductibles for any consumer requiring testing for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Insurers also must continue: 

Allowing a one-time early refill for prescription drugs. Suspending any prior authorization requirement for treatment or testing of COVID-19. In addition, if an insurer does not have enough medical providers in its network to provide testing or treatment for COVID-19, it must allow enrollees to be treated by another…

Kreidler extends emergency order on telehealth coverage for another 30 days

07/17/2020

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 Aug. 16 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…

Kreidler to insurance CEOs: Time to put racial justice pledge to work, join effort to ban credit scoring

07/15/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler reached out to insurance company CEOs and urged them to stand behind their recent pledges to end discrimination and racial inequities by supporting his proposal to ban the unfair practice of using credit scoring in setting prices for auto, homeowner’s, renter’s and life insurance. 

“Many leaders in the insurance industry have recently pledged to eliminate inequity,” said Kreidler. “My proposal is an opportunity to convert these pledges into action.

“People will feel the economic impact of the coronavirus…

Kreidler statement on U.S. Supreme Court decision denying contraceptive coverage

07/09/2020

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Little Sister of the Poor v. Pennsylvania. In its decision, the court upheld the Trump Administration’s rule that permits employers to deny employees coverage for contraceptives based on the employer’s religious or moral beliefs:

“We are carefully reviewing the Supreme Court ruling, but Washington state has a long history of protecting the health care rights of women and I intend to continue that commitment.  Yesterday’s ruling appears to…