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Captive insurers are usually a subsidiary owned by one or more parent companies that are used to manage and self-insure risks unique to the parent company's business. Because captives are a form of self-insurance, they are regulated somewhat differently than traditional insurance companies.
Our review is generally completed within 90 days.
Under the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) review proposed consolidations for anti-trust issues. These agencies have 30 days to determine if any divestment is necessary to protect a competitive market. Some FTC reviews may extend beyond 30 days if additional information is requested. Objections are sent to the DOJ for potential filing with the federal court.
In addition to our review, the Washington Attorney General's office may separately review the proposal for anti-trust issues at the state level if they find the proposed consolidation may significantly reduce competition or harm consumers.
There are no pending mergers or acquisitions at this time.
| Company name | Acquiring party | Type | Status | Date approved | Order number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WellCare Health Insurance Company of Washington and WellCare of Washington |
Centene Corporation |
Acquisition |
Approved |
Jul 31, 2019 |
|
|
Western Professional Insurance Company |
COPIC Insurance Company and Michigan Professional Insurance Exchange |
Acquisition |
Approved |
Dec 2 2019 |
19-0378 |
Follow these instructions to apply to offer guaranteed asset protection (GAP) waivers or to register as a service contract provider for home heating fuel service, vehicles, non-vehicles (tire and wheel, electronics, windshield, etc.) or product protection guarantees.
Service contract providers and their registration requirements are defined in RCW 48.110. This chapter does not provide for the registration of administrators. Only the registrant has authority under a registration and the registration cannot be used for wholesale purposes.
You are not allowed to issue any service contracts, solicit or accept applications until you're registered with us as a service contract provider.
Follow these instructions to apply for a certificate of registration as a service contract provider.
We acknowledge applications upon receipt.
A non-refundable application fee of $250 is required with your application. You can send your payment to:
Mailing address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
PO Box 40255
Olympia, WA 98504-0255
Delivery (street) address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
5000 Capitol Blvd SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
USPS will only accept the PO Box mailing address and does not allow other shippers to use that address. All non-USPS shippers must use the street address. Use of an incorrect address may result in a returned application.
Applications are assigned to our analysts in the order they're received. Once assigned, an analyst will reach out to the contact listed in question 8 in your application. If there's someone else who should be contacted, be sure to include their contact information in your application.
If your organization doesn't meet the financial requirements to register, RCW 48.110.078(1), we'll stop our review and the application will be closed.
If you meet all requirements and any errors in your application are resolved within 15 business days, we'll issue your certificate of registration by email.
You need to keep your registration information current with us by reporting any material changes or additions within 30 days after the end of the month in which the change or addition occurs. You can report changes to us via email.
Once registered, your organization has legal, financial and reporting requirements. Review carefully what's required of you as a registered service contract provider.
Motor vehicle service contracts can't be issued, sold or offered in Washington or to Washington residents unless the service contract provider insures all service contracts under a reimbursement insurance policy (CLIP). The policy must be issued by an insurer holding a certificate of authority from the commissioner or a risk retention group properly registered with the commissioner. See RCW 48.110.075 for complete details.
If you offer motor vehicle service contracts you must use a single CLIP to cover all types of service contracts you offer.
To demonstrate financial responsibility and the ability to meet your obligations as a service contract provider, you must use one of the following forms of indemnity to cover all types of service contracts you offer:
Every registered service contract provider needs to complete an annual financial statement report before March 1 each year. There is an annual filing fee of $20 also due by March 1 each year.
Motor vehicle service contract providers need to submit all proposed forms for approval to our Rates and Forms Division when they receive their certificate of registration. Read the instructions for filing motor vehicle service contracts.
All service contract forms for motor vehicles issued, delivered, sold or marketed in Washington or to Washington state residents must be filed with our office for approval within 60 days after you begin using the forms.
Contact our Rates and Forms Help Desk at 360-725-7111 or email rfhelpdesk@oic.wa.gov if you have form filing-related questions.
If you're a registered service contract provider and want to change which types of coverage you offer, download and complete the service contract coverage change request form (PDF 803.34KB).
You can submit this form to us via email.
Your certificate of registration is valid unless it's surrendered, suspended or revoked by the commissioner. You can also choose not to renew.
Your registration is up for renewal annually on July 1, and you will need to pay a $200 renewal fee. If you choose not to renew, your registration is considered expired on June 30 of that year.
Protection product guarantee providers and their registration requirements are defined in RCW 48.110. This chapter does not provide for the registration of administrators. Only the registrant has authority under a registration and the registration cannot be used for wholesale purposes.
You are not allowed to issue any protection product guarantee contracts, solicit or accept applications until you're registered with us as a protection product guarantee provider.
Once registered, your organization has legal, financial and reporting requirements. Review carefully what's required of you as a registered protection product guarantee provider.
Protection product guarantee contracts can't be issued, sold or offered in Washington or to Washington residents unless the protection product guarantee provider insures all contracts under a reimbursement insurance policy (CLIP).
The policy must be issued by an insurer holding a certificate of authority from the commissioner or a risk retention group properly registered with the commissioner. See RCW 48.110.060 for complete details.
We acknowledge applications upon receipt.
A non-refundable application fee of $250 is required with your application. You can send your payment to:
Mailing address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
PO Box 40255
Olympia, WA 98504-0255
Delivery (street) address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
5000 Capitol Blvd SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
USPS will only accept the PO Box mailing address and does not allow other shippers to use that address. All non-USPS shippers must use the street address. Use of an incorrect address may result in a returned application.
Applications are assigned to our analysts in the order they're received. If you meet all requirements and any errors in your application are resolved within 15 business days, we'll issue your certificate of registration by email.
You need to keep your registration information current with us by reporting any material changes or additions within 30 days after the end of the month in which the change or addition occurs. You can report changes to us via email.
Home heating fuel distributors must be registered with our office to sell service contracts to their customers to repair or replace oil tanks and their related parts if they fail. Read our full notice to home heating distributors for this requirement (PDF 71.57KB).
You must have a certificate of registration from us before you issue any service contracts, solicit or accept any applications. See RCW 48.111 for complete details.
We acknowledge applications upon receipt.
A non-refundable application fee of $100 is required with your application. You can send your payment to:
Mailing address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
PO Box 40255
Olympia, WA 98504-0255
Delivery (street) address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
5000 Capitol Blvd SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
USPS will only accept the PO Box mailing address and does not allow other shippers to use that address. All non-USPS shippers must use the street address. Use of an incorrect address may result in a returned application.
Applications are assigned to our analysts in the order they're received. If you meet all requirements and any errors in your application are resolved within 15 business days, we'll issue your certificate of registration by email.
You need to keep your registration information current with us by reporting any material changes or additions within 30 days after the end of the month in which the change or addition occurs. You can report changes to us via email.
GAP waivers and the application process to apply to offer them are defined in RCW 48.160 and WAC 284-160. If you're applying, it's your responsibility to understand these chapters and other applicable statutes. You need to be registered with our office to offer, market, sell or act as an obligor for a GAP waiver.
You're not required to register if you're a retail seller of motor vehicles that assigns more than 85% of GAP waiver agreements within 30 days of the effective date to a registered GAP waiver obligor or if you're an insurer authorized to transact this type of insurance business in Washington.
Anyone acting as an exempt creditor can choose to offer a GAP waiver that complies with certain sections under RCW 48.160.
We acknowledge applications upon receipt.
A non-refundable application fee of $250 is required with your application. You can send your payment to:
Mailing address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
PO Box 40255
Olympia, WA 98504-0255
Delivery (street) address:
Attn: Company Supervision Division
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
5000 Capitol Blvd SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
USPS will only accept the PO Box mailing address and does not allow other shippers to use that address. All non-USPS shippers must use the street address. Use of an incorrect address may result in a returned application.
Applications are assigned to our analysts in the order they're received. If you meet all requirements and any errors in your application are resolved within 15 business days, we'll issue your certificate of registration by email.
You need to keep your registration information current with us by reporting any material changes or additions within 30 days after the end of the month in which the change or addition occurs. You can report changes to us via email.
Washington state offers a business-friendly climate with a top ten ranking among states in a recent Forbes magazine survey of “The Best States for Business.” We invite health carriers to apply for admission to do business here.
Our regulatory environment is fair and reasonable. We use the Uniform Certificate of Authority Application (UCAA) to review and process your applications quickly.
We encourage applications to be submitted electronically. We do not require hard copies in addition to the electronic application.
Foreign and domestic HCSCs use these documents to apply for admission.
Foreign health care service contractor admission instructions (PDF 102.21KB)
Domestic health care service contractor admission instructions (PDF 102.02KB)
Solicitation permit checklist (PDF 80.04KB)
Health maintenance organizations
Foreign and domestic HMOs use these documents to apply for admission.
Foreign health maintenance organization admission instructions (PDF 121.76KB)
Domestic health maintenance organization admission instructions (PDF 103.93KB)
Solicitation permit checklist (PDF 80.04KB)
To request amendments to your certificate of authority, use the UCAA's corporate amendments application.
You can use this application to file multiple changes at once. Include all changes on form and along with all the items they need.
For any of the following changes, you'll also need to submit your original Certificate of Authority:
We host a filing webinar for the new plan year and periodically host webinars to help certain types of filers when new regulations are added or regulations change. We recommend attending these or reading through them for the latest information and tips to ensure a smooth review process.
We use financial regulation to make sure insurers can stay solvent and pay claims. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) accredits financial regulation in the U.S. This ensures consistent regulation across states and reduces redundancy. Most financial regulation staff have accounting experience.
We use what we learn from data calls, annual required reporting and surveys as regulators to find gaps in coverage, help work groups make recommendations to lawmakers and learn more about what's needed to address consumer concerns in Washington.
Under RCW 48.43.537, all entities acting as IROs in Washington state need to register and certify through our online portal.
First, you need a current business license from the Department of Revenue. Then you can register as an IRO through our online portal.
Once we approve your registration, your main contact will receive an email notice. An analyst will review your submission and may send you comments or questions.
State-based market regulation of the insurance industry helps consumers get reasonable prices, sound products and fair claims practices from their insurers.
Our market conduct regulators are broken up into two teams: market analysis and market conduct examination. These teams determine if companies are complying with non-financial laws in the way they do sales, advertising, underwriting and handle complaints and claims.