Report shows that nearly 1 million Washington residents do not have any health insurance

Washington’s Insurance Commissioner, Mike Kreidler, has released a new report showing the large gap between state residents who have health insurance and those that do not. According to the report, the number of people without health insurance will reach 1 million by the end of this year. Between the periods of 2008 and 2010, the number of those without insurance coverage rose by 180,000. Commissioner Kreidler attributes the problem to a stagnating economy and an aging population. The report notes that hospitals and health care professionals throughout the state are…

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Washington insurer facing fines after denying coverage for contraceptives for women

As the nation’s insurers begin to make the shift in covering birth control for women, some companies are falling behind. Washington’s Regence BlueShield, one of the state’s largest health insurance companies, is being fined by state insurance regulators for denying coverage to nearly 1,000 women. The company is now facing fines coming from the state’s Insurance Department. Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler was first made aware of the issue early this week when a consumer contacted his office to file a complaint. Regence BlueShield now faces a $100,000 fine for what…

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Washington launches new website bringing more transparency to the insurance industry

The Washington Department of Insurance has launched a new website that allows consumers to review rate proposals from the state’s insurers. The website is the brainchild of Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who has been an advocate for transparency in the insurance industry for many years. The Department of Insurance had been awarded with federal grants to build the site a month ago. The site was completed and launched late last week and has already been updated with information on pending proposals. The website was made possible by House Bill 1220,…

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