Keep yourself safe - avoid and report Medicare scams

With Medicare Open Enrollment just around the corner--Oct. 15 – Dec. 7--and new Medicare cards in the mail, be on the lookout for scam artis...

Are fireworks banned where you live? Check your insurance policy before you light them

Before you celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, here are a few things to consider: Some cities in Washington state have banned fireworks. I...

Skipping commercial insurance is a bad idea for ridesharing drivers

Driving your own vehicle for a ridesharing company—Uber and Lyft are the most well-known—has become a popular side gig. Some drivers are ill...

New Medicare card scams hit nationwide

Medicare started mailing new cards to beneficiaries in April and will finish mailing them nationwide in a year. In Washington state, benefi...

Insurance tips for recent college grads

It's graduation season and lots of new college graduates are embarking on their career journeys. Many college grads find themselves need...

SHIBA volunteers provide exceptional customer service to Medicare clients

April marks National Volunteer Month and our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program recognizes the more than 400 peopl...

It’s never too soon to start planning for retirement

Did you know that 2 million workers in Washington state don't have access to a retirement plan at work? Studies show that it's best ...

How to get the most out of your dental insurance

More than 249 million Americans had dental coverage at the end of 2016, according to the National Association of Dental Plans. Here’s some i...

New Medicare cards are coming starting in April

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will start mailing redesigned Medicare cards to beneficiaries in Washington state aft...

Information for TRICARE members in Washington state

Our office regulates insurance, but not every kind of insurance. One of the types of insurance we don’t regulate are military health plans, ...

Insurance fraud hurts consumers, too

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner investigates criminal insurance fraud, receiving approximately 2,000 referrals each year. While in...

Consumer complaints can lead to investigations, legal action against industry

Consumers can file complaints against insurance companies or against an agent or broker (they are called producers). Sometimes those complai...

Free, unbiased health insurance counseling is available in all areas of Washington state

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner oversees Washington’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA). SHIBA offers free, unbi...

It's National Consumer Protection Week -- we are here to help with insurance

National Consumer Protection Week is March 4-10 and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner is one of many state agencies that help Washing...

If you run a business out of your home, here’s why you should talk to your insurance agent

If you run a business out of your home, your homeowner insurance policy may not cover you adequately. Homeowner insurance policies typically...

Kreidler’s consumer advocates recovered $18.9 million for consumers in 2017

Most people know that we regulate insurance in Washington state, but many aren’t aware that we also help consumers when they have questions ...

Corporate efforts to innovate health care will be of interest to many

The announcement by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JP Morgan Chase to form a company to contain health care costs for their employees has ge...

Health insurers in Washington must cover 12 months of oral contraceptives at a time

Starting this year, health insurance companies in Washington state are required to cover a 12-month supply of birth control pills, rather th...

Five insurance considerations for the new year

The start of a new year is a natural time to re-evaluate your insurance coverage needs. Changing circumstances may require updated policies....

Fight fraud: Guard your Medicare card

If you have Medicare, you can protect your identity and help prevent health care fraud by guarding your Medicare card just like you would a ...