Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Happy Women’s History Month! follow along all March to learn about coverage rights for women. #womenshistorymonth♀️

🗣️ #nationalconsumerprotectionweek
 
Call our Consumer Protection hotline at 1-800-562-6900 or visit us online at www.insurance.wa.gov

Faional Consumer Protection week! 66 OIC staff was proficient, and persisted in getting my case resolved for a favorable outcome. I greatly appreciate her assistance in this matter. -A Washingtonian Consumer Areal WA OIC www. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

Faional Consumer Protection week! 66 Thank you so much for all your help! Your team has been amazing in resolving my insurance claim issue. -A Washingtonian Consumer Areal WA OIC www. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

Faional Consumer Protection week! 46 Prompt action and excellent resolution. Glad this got 'company' to actually do their job. フラ -A Washingtonian Consumer WA www. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

If you have questions about your insurance coverage or feel you’re not being treated fairly, reach out!

Our insurance experts can answer your questions, investigate complaints, and help you understand your rights.

 Don’t just take our word for it – see what others had to say! 🗣️

Senator Claire Wilson, a longtime educator, sits down with Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer to discuss a report the OIC sent to the Legislature in December on the availability of insurance coverage for child-placing agencies and family homes. Listen 🎧 here : podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...

We’re excited to kick off National Consumer Protection Week which spans March 1st through March 7th. This nationwide effort is dedicated to helping consumers understand their rights and protect their wallets.

Stay tuned for more this week! #nationalconsumerprotectionweek

FEBRUARY IS AWARENESS MONTH Remembering the '01 Nisqually Earthquake and the community resiliency in the wake of devastation. (more in caption) WINSURANCE.WA.GOV

The 25th anniversary of the Nisqually earthquake is on February 28, 2026, as the powerful 6.8 magnitude quake struck the Puget Sound region at 10:54 a.m. on February 28, 2001, serving as a significant reminder of seismic risk in the Pacific Northwest. #earthquakeawarenessmonth

Affected by the December storms? Low interest federal disaster loans now available through the Small Business Administration: • Businesses and nonprofits - up to $2M to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets • Homeowners and renters - up to $100K to replace or repair personal property (ex. clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances) • Homeowners - up to $500K to replace or repair your primary residence WA OIC www. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans (up to $100k) to replace or repair personal property.

Homeowners may apply for up to $500k to replace or repair their primary residence: www.sba.gov/article/2026...

1976 SHIBA meetings

SHIBA volunteers from 1976

1976 SHIBA meetings

SHIBA meetings 2026

Throwback Thursday!
How it started vs how it’s going: check out the first ever SHIBA meetings in 1976 next to some of our meetings now where just like today, volunteers banned together to help keep their neighbors better informed about their Medicare coverage. #TBT

WA OIC O PASSED THE SENATE Preventive services BUILDING HB 2242 Rep. Dan Bronoske (D-Lakewood) Protections for preventive services passes Senate (read more in caption)

Preserving preventive services is one step closer to becoming law! The Senate just passed House Bill 2242 to ensure continued access to no-cost preventive services (like well-child visits and vaccinations) for Washingtonians who choose to use them. Learn more: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...

Join the team. Sign up to volunteer and make a difference You can help people with Medicare. No experience necessary We provide training for various volunteer roles: • Counseling • Outreach • Data entry • Public speaking • Clerical support (details & more in caption) OFFICE of the INSURANCE SHIBA COMMISSIONER WASHINGTON STATE

Want to help people with Medicare? 🧡Ready to make a difference in your community! Sign up to become a Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisor (SHIBA) volunteer. No experience needed - we’ll train you! #medicare 👉 www.insurance.wa.gov/shiba

Commissioner Kuderer speaking to the interns

Commissioner Kuderer and staff speaking with the interns

The Washington state interns

Commissioner Kuderer and staff speaking to interns

Commissioner Kuderer and staff were invited to speak with the legislative interns at the capitol where they covered the importance of good government, insurance regulation, and connecting with constituents from every corner of Washington state. Thank you 😊 #internship

Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D – Spokane) joins Commissioner Kuderer to discuss the Strengthen Washington Homes grant program and how it helps people at risk of wildfire keep their insurance. Listen to the podcast at: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...

Join us in celebrating the professionals who make the marketplace safer for everyone! If you're ready to grow your career and help protect Washington consumers, explore our open positions today: #insurancecareersmonth
 #nowhiring www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/car...

It’s insurance careers month and we’re hiring see details and caption. www.insurance.wa.gov.

While many think of insurance careers only at private companies, our team works on the front lines of consumer protection. A career here means:
 
✅ Ensuring fair rates for all residents.
✅ Investigating fraud to keep costs down
✅ advocating for new laws to protect policyholders. 🧵👇🏼

Ghost brokers and how to protect yourself A big part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s work is investigating potential insurance-related crimes and identifying trends…

…on the OIC investigators’ radars.
What’s a ghost broker and what can you do to avoid falling victim to one?  Read our blog to find out: medium.com/commissioner...

NEW BLOG OUT NOW: Commissioner's Eye on Insurance Advocate, educate, regulate Ghost brokers and how to protect yourself (details in caption) WA OIC WWW. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

A big part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s work is investigating potential insurance-related crimes and identifying trends criminals use to take advantage of insurance consumers.
Ghost 👻 brokers a fantastical term for a financial infraction is one of the newer schemes popping up 🧵👇🏼

On Campus: Gov. Bob Ferguson and the preventive services bill (HB 2242) Podcast Episode · OIC Answers on Insurance · 02/18/2026 · 12m

Listen to full podcast here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o... @governorferguson.bsky.social

Since 2010, Washingtonians have enjoyed access to no-cost preventive health services. That’s no cost sharing, copays and deductibles on services like well-child visits, cancer screenings, maternal health care, and immunizations but recent actions at the federal level put cost-free status at risk.

Insurance fraud modernization bill passes the Senate! Learn more here: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...

WA OIC O PASSED THE SENATE D/N G Modernizing insurance fraud laws SB 6031 Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek) Making sure we have the tools to fight organized, high-tech insurance fraud. (read more in caption)

Modernizing insurance fraud laws is one step closer to becoming law! The Senate just passed Senate Bill 6031 to make sure we have the tools to fight sophisticated insurance fraud. Insurance fraud costs more than $300B a year and those losses are passed on to consumers through higher premiums. #WaLeg

When The Color Line Meets The Borderline: Health Insurance Coverage Among Black Immigrant Adults In The US | Health Affairs Journal Black immigrants represent a growing share of the immigrant population in the United States and may face unique barriers to health insurance coverage. Using microdata from the 2017–21 American Communi...

At the OIC, we study and learn from history to ensure that today’s marketplace is transparent, non-discriminatory, and accessible to everyone. #blackhistorymonth

You can learn more at: www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/...

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH Did you know? History shows us that access to fair insurance hasn't always been equal. From "redlining" practices to higher premiums based on zip codes, the RAN C road to equity has been long and our work is far from over. BUIL D (read more in captio WA OIC WWW. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

History shows us that access to fair insurance hasn’t always been equal. From “redlining” practices to higher premiums based on zip codes, the road to equity has been long. 🧵👇🏼 #blackhistorymonth

Presidents’ Day. The Oic offices will be closed Monday, February 16. Our online services are still available 24/7

Our OIC offices are closed Monday, February 16th in observance of President’s Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, February 17th at 8am. Find more information online 24/7 at www.insurance.wa.gov

You can read more at: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...

WA OIC O PASSED THE SENATE Z G Strengthen Washington Homes Act URANC SB 6079 Sen. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) ...to help retrofit homes to better resist wildfires & reduce 'wildfire risk' nonrenewals and cancellations... (read more in caption)

The Strengthen Washington Homes Act is one step closer to becoming law! The Senate just passed Senate Bill 6079 to create a pilot grant program to help folks retrofit their homes to better resist wildfires & reduce nonrenewal and cancellations of homeowners insurance policies due to wildfire risk.

You’re worth the risk

You’re my favorite policy… Because you’ve got full coverage of my heart

I like long walks on the beach and you having liability coverage

You had me at clear rate, explanations

Roses are red, violets are blue, insurance is hard, but we're here for you.
We ❤️ Consumers! #valentinesday

What we’ve learned since the Nisqually earthquake Podcast Episode · OIC Answers on Insurance · 02/12/2026 · 22m

Josh Martinsen, the Property & Casualty Unit to talk about what we’ve learned since then and how we can prepare our homes — from a construction standpoint and a physical standpoint — for the next significant earthquake. #Earthquakeawarenessmonth podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

NEW PODCAST EPISODE: FEBRUARY IS AWARENESS MONTH DEANSWERS What we've learned since the Nisqually earthquake OFFICE of the INSURANCE COMMISSIONER WASHINGTON STATE (Podcast details in caption) WA OIC www. INSURANCE.WA.GOV

What we’ve learned since the Nisqually earthquake:

The Nisqually earthquake in Western Washington on Feb. 28, 2001. As we look back on the event 25 years later, the OIC Answers podcast welcomes on by Anne-marie Marshall-Dody, the @emd.wa.gov Assistant Director for disaster resilience. 🧵

Preventive services protections bill passes Washington state House of Representatives . Read more here: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...

Wildfire risk scoring transparency bill passes the state Senate! Read press release here: www.insurance.wa.gov/about-us/new...