Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

WA OIC Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer November 20, 2025 Kuderer orders Thin Blue Line Insurance to stop selling unauthorized insurance in Washington OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer on Wednesday ordered Thin Blue Line Benefits to stop operating as an unlicensed insurance company and selling insurance in Washington. Read more WA OIC

Thin Blue Line Benefits of TX ordered to stop doing business in Washington after it failed to process health insurance claims for retired state and local law enforcement officers.  Read more here: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...

YouTube video by AARP Washington State Caring For Caregivers Ep 19 - Navigating Medicare

Watch our SHIBA program manager, Tim Smolen chat with AARP about #Medicare and how our program helps beneficiaries navigate open enrollment: youtu.be/HeZh9Jn9ev0?...

Native American Heritage Month We respectfully acknowledge that the land our facilities are on is traditional territory of many, indigenous tribes consolidated into the 29 federally recognized tribes of Washington... " Read our full land acknowledgement and more on our Tribal relations webpage. San Youth Leaded WA OIC SS www. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

Join us in honoring the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans. 🪶You can learn more about the OIC’s tribal affairs office or read our full land acknowledgement at www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/tri...
 
#nativeamericanheritagemonth #nativeamerican

Class is in session! Today’s lesson: #Medicare A, B, C and D. You can learn more about Medicare Open Enrollment at: direc.to/nCun

OIC Patty Kuderer November 17, 2025 Nine insurers approved to sell health insurance to small businesses in 2026. Read more in caption

Nine insurers approved to sell health insurance to small businesses in 2026. Read more here: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...

A purple graphic depicting: Transgender Awareness Week is Nov 13, - Nov 19 Raising visibility and awareness about transgender and gender non-conforming people State law and the federal Affordable Care Act prevent insurers from discriminating against you based on your gender identity and related medical conditions. (webpage link with more in caption)

Learn more about your right to Gender Affirming Care at www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-re...

A picture of a laptop screen depicting the website that is listed in the caption with bold lettering stating “shopping for health insurance online? Make sure you’re buying a real health plan!”

This Open Enrollment, shop smart & learn the about potential risks and what's covered when weighing health coverage options that don't meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) standards! www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-resources/health-insurance/health-insurance-coverage/aca-vs-non-aca-health-coverage-options

A picture of five Insurance Commissioners in business attire standing shoulder to shoulder, smiling for the photo.

This week Commissioner Kuderer (pictured with the Insurance Commissioners of Montana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia) joined colleagues from both NCOIL and the NAIC to discuss emerging AI technologies in the insurance sector, federal impacts on the insurance market, and more.

OIC comms team at Digital Day Seattle

#PNWDigitalday

Digital Day Seattle opening remarks

Thank you Digital Day Seattle for sharing some great tips of the trade from the OIC communications team! #PNWDigitalDay 📸

THIS MOVEMBER LET IT GROW PROSTATE SCREENINGS are covered by your insurance plan (More about your rights in the caption) WA OIC WINSURANCE.WA.GOV

Under Washington state law, certain individual/family and group plans must offer these benefits. You can learn more this Men’s-Health-Movember at www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-resources/health-insurance/how-health-insurance-works/benefits-health-plans-must-cover-under-washington-state-law #movember

Photo of the OIC Veterans

🇺🇸Happy Veterans Day from the OIC! In honor of our nation’s veterans, our offices will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Pictured are some of the veterans who work for the OIC. Thank you for your service!

One year after a bomb cyclone hit the Pacific Northwest, the OIC Answers podcast looks back on the questions it raised to help you understand wind 💨 damage and your home insurance. 
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

Confused about the difference between Medicare & Medicaid? Take our quick and easy trivia quiz – then order our FREE Medicare Jumpstart Toolkit! It’ll help you stay organized during #Medicare Open Enrollment going on now: direc.to/nCuT

npr November 6, 2025 Your credit history could be costing you more to drive "When the industry talks about a correlation between increased claims and low credit scores, that is a true statement," Kuderer says, "But that's not really addressing the issue of what I, as the insurance commissioner, am statutorily charged with doing, which is looking to see if the rates are unfairly discriminatory." WA OIC

Some detailed investigative reporting from NPR on credit scores & auto insurance. Have a listen and check out their zip code specific analysis to see how your auto rates might vary based on your credit score: www.npr.org/2025/11/05/n...

There are a few things to keep in mind about pet insurance. Photo of Chevy the puppy. Swipe for more.

OK, now that we have your attention! Shopping for pet insurance? Check for any restrictions on coverage for specific breeds inherited health insurance issues or pre-existing conditions swipe for more.

OK, since we still have you: consider whether premiums fit your budget, keeping in mind that these costs may go up as your pet gets older.

We all love our pets. 🐶😻🐴And we want to make sure they are well taken care of, but you don’t have to break the bank. Here are some things to consider when shopping for pet insurance: www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-re...

Why work with us?
✅ Make a meaningful impact in the lives of Washington residents
✅ Enjoy great benefits, professional development, and work-life balance
✅ Be part of a diverse, dedicated team that values collaboration and service
✅ Work for a state agency with a strong mission and vision #NowHiring

We’re HIRING

Join Our Team at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
(OIC), we protect the public through fair, transparent, and consistent oversight of the insurance industry.
Explore our open positions today: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/car...

Why work with us?
✅ Make a meaningful impact in the lives of Washington residents
✅ Enjoy great benefits, professional development, and work-life balance
✅ Be part of a diverse, dedicated team that values collaboration and service
✅ Work for a state agency with a strong mission and vision #NowHiring

Open enrollment is underway and many people are experiencing sticker shock. Commissioner Kuderer explains what she’s been doing to urge Congress to extend the enhanced premium tax credits and what’s at stake if they fail to act.

npr October 30, 2025 Why car insurance costs have soared (and what drivers are doing about it) What's the item? Car insurance How has the price changed since before the pandemic? On average, premiums are up 55% since February 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Almost all of that increase came between 2022 and 2024.) Read more WA OIC

Auto premiums have levelled off, but tariffs and other factors could prompt increases in the future. Commissioner Kuderer talked to NPR about car #insurance: 🚗
www.npr.org/2025/10/30/n...

THIS MOVEMBER LET IT GROW men's health, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. (Be on the lookout for pro tips all month long)

Make it Movember to remember! 🥸Started in the early 2000's, the #Movember movement centers men's health, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Stay tuned, we'll be posting about men's health and insurance rights all month long.

Join us today November 4th at 2:00. Register here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

See you soon!

Confused about the difference between Medicare & Medicaid? Take our quick and easy trivia quiz – then order our FREE Medicare Jumpstart Toolkit! It’ll help you stay organized during #Medicare Open Enrollment going on now: direc.to/nEqu

It’s open enrollment https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/ can help. More details in caption.

🚨 Open Enrollment for 2026 coverage is officially OPEN! 🚨 Now is the time to shop, compare, and enroll in a qualified health plan through our Exchange, Washington Healthplanfinder. Don't risk going without coverage.Start today! www.wahealthplanfinder.org #WACovered #OpenEnrollment #HealthInsuranceWA

Halloween costume party for the oic staff and kids

Happy #Halloween 🎃 from your consumer protections experts at the OIC! 👻

Congress must act now to support people buying their own health insurance. Washington’s individual health insurance market opens for enrollment tomorrow. Normally this event gets local attention, but today the fate of the federal government’s shut down is hanging on whether the Republican-controlled Congress will continue the enhanced tax credits millions of consumers rely on to afford coverage.

Open enrollment starts tomorrow for WA’s individual health insurance market. Read Commissioner Kuderer’s take on why Congress must act now to help consumers: medium.com/commissioner...

If you ever need to file a claim, it’s important to know your rights: www.insurance.wa.gov/insurance-re...

Don’t forget to set your clocks back Sunday nov 2nd. Or as we say fall into Fall

Daylight saving time 🕙Don’t forget to set your clocks back! Fall’s a perfect time to get your home ready for winter. Consider insulating your pipes and installing faucet covers to prevent freezes. #daylightsaving

Kuderer issues more than $820,000 in fines for insurance violations OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer issued fines totaling $828,500 for insurance law violations in July, August, September, and early October of 2025.

The fines included $100,000 against Regence BlueShield for incorrectly denying claims and a previously-announced $550,000 fine against Premera for MHPAEA violations. Read more here: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...