News from the Commissioner

JUNE 2017

• Eleven health insurers file for 2018 individual market in 37 counties, leaving two with no coverage

  Jun 08, 2017

• Former Mill Creek insurance agent charged in theft of clients’ money

  Jun 07, 2017

MAY 2017

• 

  Idaho man fails to appear in Spokane court to face felony charges

  May 22, 2017

• Kent man pleads guilty after pretending to be in collision, filing injury claim

  May 05, 2017

APRIL 2017

• Three women face felonies after filing false insurance claims

  Apr 20, 2017

• Newcastle doctor ordered to repay $90,000 in long-term disability fraud

  Apr 18, 2017

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance professionals for law violations

  Apr 14, 2017

MARCH 2017

• Kreidler fines Farmers $50,000 for overcharging 92 Washington consumers

  Mar 31, 2017

• Fake injury claims result in felony fraud charge

  Mar 23, 2017

• Kreidler revises deadline to June 7 for health insurer proposed 2018 plans

  Mar 21, 2017

• Kreidler joins Congressional Democrats at D.C. hearing on Republican plan to repeal ACA

  Mar 15, 2017

• Idaho woman joins Kreidler's most wanted in connection with auto insurance claim

  Mar 13, 2017

• Two guilty, two charged after Kreidler's fraud investigations

  Mar 09, 2017

• Surprise billing legislation passes state House of Representatives

  Mar 07, 2017

• Kreidler joins other agencies that protect consumers from fraud

  Mar 06, 2017

FEBRUARY 2017

• Kreidler: Republican claims ignore consumer gains under ACA in Washington

  Feb 23, 2017

• Kreidler fines State Farm $10,000 for not notifying policyholders about flood coverage

  Feb 10, 2017

JANUARY 2017

• Kreidler sets May 5 deadline for health insurers' 2018 proposed plans, rates

  Jan 31, 2017

• Former Juanita High School coach pleads guilty to felony theft

  Jan 24, 2017

• Seattle woman joins Kreidler's insurance fraud most wanted

  Jan 23, 2017

• Kreidler, Association of Washington Healthcare Plans advise Congress on risks of ACA repeal

  Jan 18, 2017

• Kreidler approves Kaiser Health Plan acquisition of Group Health

  Jan 13, 2017

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance professionals for violating laws, rules

  Jan 11, 2017

DECEMBER 2016

• 

  Hole-in-one scammer pleads guilty to more felonies in Washington state, gets 15 months in prison

  Dec 30, 2016

• Former postal worker gets 90 days' incarceration for 10-year insurance theft

  Dec 29, 2016

• Kreidler to hold final hearing on proposed Group Health acquisition on Jan. 3

  Dec 28, 2016

• Two charged, one pleads guilty in auto insurance scams in King County

  Dec 27, 2016

• Kreidler revokes licenses of Seattle insurance agency, owner for forging documents, other violations

  Dec 13, 2016

• Kennewick woman to serve 90 days in jail for felony insurance fraud

  Dec 09, 2016

• Washington's SHIBA program ranked among top 15 in country

  Dec 06, 2016

• Kreidler: Zenefits' free software offer illegal under state law

  Dec 01, 2016

NOVEMBER 2016

• New online tool helps people find lost life insurance policies

  Nov 28, 2016

• Kitsap woman pleads guilty to attempted insurance fraud

  Nov 22, 2016

• 

  Kreidler's fraud investigators earn law enforcement accreditation

  Nov 17, 2016

• Renton dentist ordered to stop selling illegal dental plans

  Nov 10, 2016

OCTOBER 2016

• Ex-Centralia postal worker charged in $350,000 health insurance theft

  Oct 28, 2016

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance companies and professionals $13,000

  Oct 27, 2016

• 13 insurers approved to sell 154 health plans in Washington's individual market

  Oct 26, 2016

• Former Spokane insurance agent pleads guilty to stealing from clients

  Oct 24, 2016

• Report ranks insurers' preparedness for addressing climate change risks

  Oct 20, 2016

• Medicare annual open enrollment starts Oct. 15, SHIBA can help!

  Oct 13, 2016

• Three people guilty of felonies in insurance fraud cases

  Oct 12, 2016

• Two fail to appear in court, added to Kreidler's most wanted

  Oct 04, 2016

SEPTEMBER 2016

• Kreidler issues fines of $114,150 for insurance law violations

  Sep 20, 2016

• 46 health plans with average 13.1 percent rate change sent to Exchange Board for certification

  Sep 08, 2016

• Kreidler gets two guilty pleas, one person charged in Eastern Washington fraud cases

  Sep 06, 2016

AUGUST 2016

• Kreidler fines Regence BlueShield, Asuris $750,000

  Aug 24, 2016

• Kreidler fines American Pet Insurance $150,000 for multiple violations

  Aug 11, 2016

• 

  Kreidler's investigators arrest Tacoma man wanted on fraud charges

  Aug 08, 2016

• Bremerton pair charged with felonies in pay-as-you-crash scheme

  Aug 01, 2016

JULY 2016

• Tacoma fraud suspect fails to appear in court again

  Jul 29, 2016

• Woman pleads guilty in King County to insurance fraud charges

  Jul 14, 2016

• Kreidler orders unlicensed Seattle-area adjuster to cease work, pay $5,000 fine

  Jul 13, 2016

• Arrest warrant issued for felon Kevin Kolenda after skipping court hearing

  Jul 08, 2016

• Update: Tacoma man wanted for insurance fraud charges arrested in Seattle

  Jul 05, 2016

JUNE 2016

• Kreidler's investigations net three guilty pleas in fraud cases

  Jun 23, 2016

• Kreidler fines insurers for letting producers' appointments lapse

  Jun 22, 2016

• Seattle doctor charged with theft of $359,000 in disability, unemployment funds

  Jun 15, 2016

• 

  Public forums scheduled on proposed Group Health acquisition

  Jun 09, 2016

MAY 2016

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance professionals $113,600 for violations

  May 23, 2016

• 13 health insurers file 154 plans for 2017 - 13.5 average requested rate change

  May 16, 2016

• Bothell dental office manager charged in cash, insurance thefts

  May 11, 2016

• Kent woman joins Kreidler's insurance fraud most wanted list

  May 10, 2016

• Kreidler asks insurers to join effort to boost industry's supplier diversity

  May 05, 2016

APRIL 2016

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance professionals $146,100

  Apr 21, 2016

• Court fines Spanaway man $1,000 after plea for auto insurance fraud

  Apr 05, 2016

• Kreidler-requested bill strengthens state oversight of life insurance

  Apr 01, 2016

MARCH 2016

• Tacoma man pleads guilty to attempted insurance fraud, will repay more than $19,000

  Mar 29, 2016

• Attempted insurance fraud guilty plea nets jail sentence

  Mar 23, 2016

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance professionals $17,675 for violations

  Mar 11, 2016

• Woman wanted in King County for evading insurance fraud charges arrested in Nevada

  Mar 09, 2016

• Kreidler joins state efforts to promote Consumer Protection Week

  Mar 04, 2016

• Kreidler receives formal application from Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to acquire Group Health

  Mar 02, 2016

FEBRUARY 2016

• Kreidler fines Regence $40,000 for denying health insurance to Medicaid-eligible consumers

  Feb 29, 2016

• Insurance fraud most wanted suspect from Pierce County arrested in California

  Feb 26, 2016

• Four face felonies in Pierce County for auto insurance fraud

  Feb 25, 2016

• Insurance scammer Kevin Kolenda faces five additional felony counts

  Feb 24, 2016

• One person pleads guilty, four charged with felonies after Spokane insurance fraud investigations

  Feb 12, 2016

• Kreidler fines Farmers Insurance $300,000 for four years of mischarging consumers

  Feb 08, 2016

• 

  Uninsured rate in Washington state drops by half to 7.3 percent

  Feb 03, 2016

JANUARY 2016

• Kreidler bill would end surprise billing for hospital emergency services

  Jan 18, 2016

DECEMBER 2015

• Three sentenced, five charged after Kreidler's fraud unit investigations

  Dec 29, 2015

NOVEMBER 2015

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers and companies nearly $400,000 in October

  Nov 19, 2015

• What to consider when shopping for a health plan this year

  Nov 04, 2015

OCTOBER 2015

• 

  210 individual health plans available in Washington - average 3.9 percent rate change

  Oct 29, 2015

• Kreidler fines insurer of WSU student plans $310,000 for using the wrong rates

  Oct 15, 2015

• Questions about Medicare's annual open enrollment? SHIBA can help!

  Oct 12, 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015

• 

  Fraud investigations result in one felony conviction, one deferred sentence

  Sep 28, 2015

• Kreidler fines, disciplines insurance companies and producers in August

  Sep 22, 2015

• Third time is not the charm for SeaTac man who pleads guilty to attempted theft

  Sep 15, 2015

AUGUST 2015

• 136 health plans approved with average 4.2 percent rate change sent to Exchange board for certification today

  Aug 27, 2015

• Individual Exchange Market: 2016 approved plans by carrier and metal level (as of 8/27/15)

  Aug 27, 2015

• Allstate fined $10,000 for unidentifiable policy mailers sent to Washington consumers

  Aug 12, 2015

• SHIBA welcomes Lower Columbia Community Action Program as new sponsor in Clark, Skamania counties

  Aug 10, 2015

JULY 2015

• Four charged with felonies in Pierce, Spokane counties

  Jul 29, 2015

• Kirkland naturopath pleads guilty to 2 counts of false medical claims

  Jul 20, 2015

• Public hearing July 21 on rule to increase transparency of provider networks

  Jul 20, 2015

• Kreidler fines insurer $300,000 for selling unauthorized policies

  Jul 16, 2015

• Kreidler to insurers: Don't penalize loyal customers

  Jul 09, 2015

• 

  Kent couple plead guilty in attempted insurance fraud case

  Jul 02, 2015

• Seattle man transferred from Oregon jail to face felony charges

  Jul 01, 2015

JUNE 2015

• Kreidler testifies in D.C. June 24 on the Affordable Care Act

  Jun 23, 2015

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance professionals $36,000

  Jun 16, 2015

• Golf insurance scammer Kevin Kolenda extradited to Seattle to face three new felony charges

  Jun 05, 2015

MAY 2015

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance professionals $176,600

  May 27, 2015

• Clark County man pleads guilty to felony attempted theft in auto claim

  May 21, 2015

• Seventeen health insurers file 246 health plans for 2016 – 5.4 percent average requested rate change

  May 11, 2015

• Felony charges deferred in Clark County homeowner insurance case

  May 11, 2015

• Kreidler approves largest association health plan in the state

  May 07, 2015

APRIL 2015

• Two sentenced in insurance fraud cases

  Apr 28, 2015

• Kirkland naturopath charged with felonies in insurance billing case

  Apr 21, 2015

• Golf insurance scammer Kevin Kolenda arrested today, charged with three felonies

  Apr 20, 2015

• 'Secret shopper' survey reveals insurers misinformed women on contraceptive coverage

  Apr 16, 2015

• Kreidler fines State Farm, Moda in March

  Apr 15, 2015

• Phony insurance claim results in guilty plea, two years' probation

  Apr 01, 2015

MARCH 2015

• Washington to lead multi-state investigation of Premera

  Mar 24, 2015

• 

  Five year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act - uninsured rate drops nearly 40 percent

  Mar 23, 2015

• Deer Park woman must repay $2,815 to AFLAC for fake medical claims

  Mar 13, 2015

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance company, producers in February

  Mar 09, 2015

FEBRUARY 2015

• Kreidler's fraud unit saves $3.3 million in fake claim payouts over past two years

  Feb 27, 2015

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance companies, producers

  Feb 06, 2015

• Kreidler's office recovers $9.5 million for consumers in 2014

  Feb 02, 2015

JANUARY 2015

• Kreidler, State Patrol urge 12s to drive safely on Super Bowl Sunday

  Jan 29, 2015

• Former insurance adjuster must pay victim $165,000

  Jan 20, 2015

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers $55,450

  Jan 09, 2015

DECEMBER 2014

• Mental health rule takes effect Dec. 18, 2014

  Dec 17, 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers $9,250

  Dec 04, 2014

NOVEMBER 2014

• University Place woman pleads guilty to $1,799 insurance fraud

  Nov 25, 2014

• Former insurance adjuster pleads guilty to $135,000 theft

  Nov 21, 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers for law violations

  Nov 20, 2014

• 230 health plans available in Washington's individual market - average 1.5 percent rate change

  Nov 12, 2014

• Public hearing Nov. 5 on proposed mental health parity rule

  Nov 04, 2014

OCTOBER 2014

• First association health plan approved

  Oct 29, 2014

• Kreidler calls for insurers to review mental health denials back to 2006

  Oct 20, 2014

• Washougal man tries to wring more money out of insurance claims, faces four felonies

  Oct 17, 2014

• Kreidler: Court decision bolsters new rule on mental health benefits for families

  Oct 13, 2014

• Medicare's open enrollment starts Oct. 15

  Oct 13, 2014

• Kreidler disciplines insurance producers for violating state insurance laws

  Oct 07, 2014

• Kreidler to wildfire victims: Check in with your insurer before winter

  Oct 01, 2014

SEPTEMBER 2014

• Four charged with felonies in insurance fraud schemes

  Sep 25, 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers more than $27,000

  Sep 23, 2014

AUGUST 2014

• 90 health plans approved for next year's Exchange with a record low 1.9 percent rate change

  Aug 27, 2014

• Individual Exchange Market: 2015 approved plans by carrier and metal level (as of 8/27/14)

  Aug 27, 2014

• Kreidler announces temporary special enrollment period for people struggling with health coverage

  Aug 25, 2014

• Kreidler expresses optimism that Regence, Seattle Children's will reach deal

  Aug 21, 2014

• Seattle attorney gets 24 months, ordered to pay $167,500 for fraud

  Aug 15, 2014

• Option for Washington consumers having difficulty with health coverage

  Aug 07, 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers $133,250 in July

  Aug 07, 2014

JULY 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers for violations

  Jul 22, 2014

• Spokane County sheriff's deputy charged with two counts of insurance fraud

  Jul 16, 2014

• Jury convicts Tacoma man for attempting to steal $13,000 from insurance company

  Jul 09, 2014

• Two Washington women charged in separate insurance fraud cases

  Jul 03, 2014

JUNE 2014

• Kreidler: Supreme Court dealt a blow to women's reproductive rights today

  Jun 30, 2014

• Kreidler calls for health insurers to end discrimination based on gender identity

  Jun 25, 2014

• Seattle attorney Edward Callow pleads guilty to five felonies

  Jun 24, 2014

• Individual market expands more than 30 percent - enrollment now at 327,000

  Jun 12, 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers for violations

  Jun 09, 2014

• Washington state officials: Health benefits must be provided to same-sex spouses if provided to opposite-sex spouses

  Jun 05, 2014

MAY 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers more than $300,000

  May 19, 2014

• Seventeen health insurers file more than 230 plans for 2015 - average proposed rate change 8 percent

  May 13, 2014

• New companies submit proposals to sell health plans in Washington

  May 05, 2014

• Spokane man files false insurance claim, earns felony conviction and week in jail

  May 02, 2014

APRIL 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines producers more than $24,000

  Apr 29, 2014

• Consumers to get more detail about medical providers in health plans

  Apr 27, 2014

• Individual health insurance market expands to almost 325,000

  Apr 16, 2014

• Kreidler joins White House meeting April 17 on health care reform

  Apr 15, 2014

• Kreidler disciplines, fines insurance producers $23,050

  Apr 07, 2014

MARCH 2014

• 2014 legislative session a mixed bag for Insurance Commissioner, consumers

  Mar 19, 2014

• Open enrollment for individual health plans ends March 31

  Mar 13, 2014

• President Obama's decision to extend non-compliant health plans does not apply to Washington state

  Mar 05, 2014

• Seattle lawyer who fled returns from Taiwan to face charges

  Mar 05, 2014

• Lobbyists gut insurance protection against financial schemes

  Mar 04, 2014

FEBRUARY 2014

• Seattle man charged with two felonies for false car theft claims

  Feb 27, 2014

• Kreidler's office disciplines insurers, agents

  Feb 25, 2014

• Individual health market projected to top 300,000 by March 31

  Feb 13, 2014

• Kreidler commends House for passing the Reproductive Parity Act - urges Senate to take action

  Feb 07, 2014

• Hole-in-one fraudster sentenced

  Feb 07, 2014

• Media advisory: Hole-in-one fraudster to be sentenced in Seattle on Feb. 7

  Feb 06, 2014

• Kreidler's statement on Sen. Becker's bill to eliminate elected insurance commissioner

  Feb 03, 2014

JANUARY 2014

• Washington's uninsured at 14.5 percent before start of health reform

  Jan 30, 2014

• Kreidler's office recovers $8.4 million for insurance consumers in 2013

  Jan 27, 2014

• Kreidler offers views on health reform at AMA leadership event

  Jan 09, 2014

• Kreidler's office fines insurers, agents more than $800,000

  Jan 03, 2014

DECEMBER 2013

• Kreidler's office prevents almost $250,000 in insurance fraud in 2013

  Dec 31, 2013

• Cell phone records call up fraud charges against Pierce County woman

  Dec 23, 2013

• Kreidler urges consumers to consider range of coverage options

  Dec 20, 2013

• Washington small businesses to get health insurance tax credits

  Dec 17, 2013

• Seattle lawyer faces four felonies in alleged insurance scam

  Dec 16, 2013

• Kreidler offers advice to consumers seeking health coverage by Jan. 1

  Dec 12, 2013

• Kreidler urges Congress to practice patience with Affordable Care Act

  Dec 04, 2013

• Medicare open enrollment deadline is Dec. 7

  Dec 02, 2013

NOVEMBER 2013

• Kreidler statement on President Obama’s announcement today

  Nov 14, 2013

OCTOBER 2013

• Kreidler stresses care in selecting earthquake insurance

  Oct 15, 2013

• Medicare's open enrollment starts Oct. 15 - Find help in your community

  Oct 14, 2013

• Hole-in-one golf insurer pleads guilty to three felonies

  Oct 04, 2013

SEPTEMBER 2013

• Kreidler approves Coordinated Care's three Exchange plans

  Sep 05, 2013

• Kreidler settles with Molina - approves two more Exchange plans for King, Pierce, and Spokane counties

  Sep 04, 2013

AUGUST 2013

• Individual Exchange Market: Approved plans by carrier and metal level

  Aug 30, 2013

• Kreidler achieves settlement with two health insurers – approves 10 additional Exchange options for consumers

  Aug 30, 2013

• Kreidler fines auto insurers for overcharging customers

  Aug 21, 2013

• Kreidler approves 31 new plans for Washington’s new health exchange

  Aug 01, 2013

• Supreme Court: Insurer can be held liable for agent’s actions

  Aug 01, 2013

JULY 2013

• Statement by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler on House vote to delay the individual mandate

  Jul 17, 2013

• More states asking insurers how ready they are for climate change

  Jul 17, 2013

JUNE 2013

• Kreidler fines Allianz Life Insurance $150,000

  Jun 19, 2013

MAY 2013

• State's Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is closing; Members can transfer to the federal high-risk pool

  May 31, 2013

APRIL 2013

• Kreidler names new chief deputy

  Apr 23, 2013

• Fines and other actions against insurers and agents

  Apr 18, 2013

• Insurance commissioner recovering from planned heart surgery

  Apr 02, 2013

MARCH 2013

• 3rd anniversary of health reform law - biggest reforms are months away

  Mar 22, 2013

• A $200,000 patio cover? Spokane man convicted of insurance fraud

  Mar 13, 2013

• Individual health plan enrollment for children starts March 15

  Mar 11, 2013

• What you can do when your health insurer says no

  Mar 01, 2013

FEBRUARY 2013

• Insurers and agents fined $2 million in 2012

  Feb 28, 2013

• Pre-existing condition insurance plan closes enrollment March 2

  Feb 26, 2013

JANUARY 2013

• Insurance commissioner's office launches revamped, mobile-friendly website

  Jan 31, 2013

• Kreidler supports new credit scoring bill – will testify Wednesday

  Jan 29, 2013

• Insurers fined $250,000 for violations

  Jan 23, 2013

• Kreidler: Why are health insurers' billion-dollar surpluses continuing to grow?

  Jan 08, 2013

• Fines and other enforcement actions against insurers and agents

  Jan 02, 2013