October 17, 2018
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines in September 2018 totaling $157,600 against insurance companies, agents and brokers who violated state insurance regulations.
Insurance companies
United Healthcare of Washington, Inc., Seattle; fined $50,000, order 18-0295
A consumer filed a complaint with the insurance commissioner when United Healthcare denied a claim for women’s health services, saying she needed a referral before seeking treatment. Washington state law requires health insurers to cover women’s health services without a referral. The consumer filed one verbal and one written complaint with the company, and never received a response to either complaint.
The commissioner asked the company to search its records for the previous two years for similar claim denials. It found claims for 276 Washington consumers that were illegally denied, totaling more than $135,000.
The insurance commissioner fined the following companies for using rates they did not file:
American Casualty Co. of Reading, Penn., Radnor, Penn.
Continental Casualty Co., Chicago
National Fire Insurance Co. of Hartford, Chicago
Transportation Insurance Co., Chicago
Valley Forge Insurance Co., Radnor, Penn.
Fined $50,000 among all of the companies, order 18-0320
The insurance commissioner fined the following insurance companies for violating insurance regulations in their dealings with policyholders:
- Wilco Life Insurance Co., Carmel, Ind.; fined $30,000, order 18-0087
- Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co., Omaha, Neb.; fined $7,000, order 18-0293
Agents and brokers
The insurance commissioner disciplined the following insurance producers for violating insurance regulations in their dealings with policyholders:
- Richard Todd Wixom, Spokane, Wash.; fined $1,000, order 18-0335
- Jason Ludeman, Spokane, Wash.; license revoked, order 18-0366
- John G. Johnson, Vancouver, Wash.; fined $250, order 18-0377
- Kallberg Insurance Associates and Marilyn Marks, Bothell, Wash., fined $300, order 18-0399
The insurance commissioner fined the following insurance producers for violating state licensing laws:
- James Pappas, Liberty Lake, Wash.; fined $500, order 18-0336
- Reed Collingwood and Sunstar Financial LLC, Bellevue, Wash.; fined $1,000 and licenses relinquished, order 18-0351
- Emilia Hill, McHenry, Ill.; fined $500, order 18-0352
The insurance commissioner disciplined the following insurance producers for failing to notify the agency of administrative actions against them:
- Nathaniel Cox, Overland Park, Kan.; fined $250, order 18-0203
- Pamela Roberson, Hutto, Texas; fined $250, order 18-0310
- Stephen Watson, Richmond, Va.; license relinquished, order 18-0311
- Dashonna Thompson, Plano, Texas; fined $250, order 18-0313
- Carl Browning, Witchita Falls, Texas; fined $250, order 18-0327
- Maximum Senior Benefits LLC, Elk Ridge, Utah; fined $250, order 18-0328
- BridgePoint Risk Management LLC, Greenwich, Conn.; fined $250, order 18-0350
- Gregory Acosta, Diamond Bar, Calif.; fined $250, order 18-0385
- Benjamin Meek, Lenexa, Kan.; license revoked, order 18-0338
- Sonia Fernandez, Eastvale, Calif.; license revoked, order 18-0347
- Marjorie Garner, Renton, Wash.; license revoked, order 18-0371
- Joanne Savercool, Dingmans Ferry, Penn.; license revoked, order 18-0373
- Kristina Kahmer, Ridley Park, Penn.; license revoked, order 18-0374
- Amanda Simon, Waverly, Iowa; license revoked, order 18-0376
Other organizations
The insurance commissioner fined an insurance producer continuing education provider and an unlicensed service contract provider:
- Rain and Hail LLC, Spokane, Wash.; fined $300, order 18-0383
- Performance Automotive Corp., Draper, Utah; fined $15,000 and ordered to pay premium tax, order 18-0331
About the Office
Kreidler’s office oversees Washington’s insurance industry to ensure that companies, agents and brokers follow state laws. Since 2001, Kreidler has assessed more than $25 million in fines, which are deposited in the state's general fund to pay for state services.
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner publishes disciplinary orders against companies, agents and brokers. Consumers can also look up complaints against insurance companies.
For an insurance question or complaint, contact Kreidler’s consumer advocates online or by phone at 800-562-6900.