Changes to the premium transparency rule to be considered

10/31/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is considering a change to the state’s recently adopted premium change transparency rule. 

The change would be specific to Phase 2 of the rule — the automatic inclusion of reasons for premium increases in policy renewals — and would move the timing of that action from June 2027 to June 2029.  

Phase 1, which went into effect this June, requires insurance companies to disclose to policyholders why their premiums had gone up when asked by the consumer. 

“This transparency rule is…

Individual health insurance market open enrollment starts November 1

10/29/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Open enrollment for Washington’s 2025 individual health insurance market starts Friday, Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15, 2025.

If you need a health plan for yourself or your family or want to change coverage, your chance to compare plans starts this week. To have coverage in place on Jan. 1, you must enroll by Dec. 15. 

“I encourage everyone to go to Washington Healthplanfinder and compare plans now,” said Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “We have good competition in our state and options to consider, so be sure to shop around…

Most Gray and Oregon Road fire survivors were under-insured

10/28/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — An analysis of the insurance claims paid out after the Gray and Oregon Road fires shows that most of the homes destroyed were under-insured.

The fires burned more than 20,000 acres, and destroyed 366 homes, outside of Spokane in August of 2023.

Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s office initiated a data call in June of 2024 to collect information from insurance companies that had a loss associated with the fires. 

The results showed 355 significant dwelling claims — consisting of $10,000 in dwelling loss and $10,000 in…

Washington expands essential health benefits, adding human donor milk, hearing aids, and artificial insemination

10/24/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has announced that expanded coverage for human donor milk, hearing aids and artificial insemination will be included in the state’s essential health benefits plan. 

Some benefits were also revised to ensure plans do not discriminate based on disabilities or health conditions. The changes take effect in plan years starting on or after January 1, 2026.

The benefits include:

Coverage for human milk for inpatient use, when an infant is unable to receive maternal milk or when the parent is…