OIC Answers on Insurance

Latest Episodes:

What’s in the wildfire work group’s report? Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

The Legislature asked Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer and Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove to co-chair a work group to study and issue a report on wildfire mitigation and resiliency standards. The report, which includes recommendations about wildfire risk score transparency and a grant program to help residential properties resist wildfire loss, was delivered to the Legislature on December 1.

In this episode of the OIC Answers podcast, two of the architects of the report — OIC policy analyst Lauren Burnes and DNR advisor to the state forester Robyn Whitney — discuss what went into the report, what the recommendations mean, and what happens next.

What if it gets windy? Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

A bomb cyclone hit the Pacific Northwest in November 2024,knocking out power and blowing trees onto homes. The windstruck had questions about their coverage and our Consumer Advocacy Program provided help. Now, as we near the one-year anniversary of the event, the OIC Answers podcast revisits some of those questions: What you can expect when filing a claim after wind damage, how roof repairs are covered, the difference between asking a question and filing a claim, and, for some reason, how tumbleweed damage is covered.

Open enrollment and premium tax credits with HBX Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

Open enrollment for the individual health insurance marketstarts November 1, and the federal government shutdown is bringing a little uncertainty to the shopping experience.

On this episode of the OIC Answers podcast, Washington Health Benefits Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulery joins Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer to talk about whether a podcast host really needs health insurance, what open enrollment is all about, and the benefits of shopping on healthplanfinder.org.

Then, the discussion turns to the enhanced premium tax credits, the debate on the national level around keeping them, what losing them means for the 300,000 Washingtonians who buy their plans on the Exchange, and what happens to rates and premiums if the tax credits are extended after the start of open enrollment.

What to do during Medicare open enrollment Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7 and people enrolled in Medicare can make changes to their coverage, like joining, switching or dropping Medicare Advantage or Part D plans, that’ll take effect on January 1.

On this episode of OIC Answers, the hosts welcome on SHIBA manager Tim Smolen to ask “What’s the deal with Medicare open enrollment?”

Get help with Medicare from the SHIBA Program.

What if it floods? Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner is working with theDepartment of Ecology, the Department of Natural Resources and the state Military Department on Flood Awareness Fridays. On this episode of OIC Answers, the OIC’s David Forte and Aaron VanTuyl welcome on Amanda Richardson (Ecology) and Ann-Marie Marshall-Dody (Military) to talk about where to find and how to read flood maps and how to get flood insurance, which isn’t a peril covered under standard home insurance policies in Washington state.

Note: The National Flood Insurance Program is notwriting or renewing policies while the federal government is shut down. Our Oct. 1 blog post has more information.

How regulators can impact climate policy with Jordan Haedtler Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

The insurance industry is regulated at the state level, which puts insurance regulators in a unique position to impact policies that can address climate change. In this episode of OIC Answers Jordan Haedtler, a climate financial policy consultant with Climate Cabinet, explores those options with Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer — including what some states are doing, what’s working, the conversation at the summer NAIC conference, and why being a voice for the consumers matters in these discussions.

Check out Jordan’s work at climatecabineteducation.org.

Rep. David Hackney on the importance of consumer protection Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Rep. David Hackney was elected in 2020 to represent Washington’s 11th legislative district. The former assistant U.S. attorney sits down with Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer on this episode of OIC Answers to talk about insurance, consumer protection, the restitution bill that didn’t make it out of the House Consumer Protection and Business committee (which Hackney co-chairs), and why you shouldn’t lie about what type of feathers are in your company’s pillows.

Dr. Meade Krosby on the National Climate Assessment Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

“It's an incredible resource, but what makes it unique from other reports? Why is it so important and so difficult to easily replace? Why is it so widely viewed as a legitimate, credible, and salient resource?”

This episode of the OIC Answers podcast is a presentation from Dr. Meade Krosby, given as part of Commissioner Patty Kuderer’s Climate Education Series. Dr. Krosby — senior scientist with the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, the director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, and a former author of the Northwest chapter of the National Climate Assessment — discusses what the National Climate Assessment covers, how it was established, and how it’s used by all levels of government, the private sector, and the public.

The Trump administration, however, dismissed all authors of the NCA in late April and the website hosting the report was removed in July, throwing the future of the report into limbo. Dr. Krosby’s presentation covers what could happen next, and why it’s important that the American public has the most up to date information on climate impact and responses.

What does FEMA mean for my insurance? Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

The Trump administration has announced significant cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency are coming after the 2025 hurricane season. What’s that mean for Washington, and how does FEMA funding impactinsurance? And how does the National Flood Insurance Program factor into the availability of flood coverage?

On this episode of OIC Answers, host Aaron VanTuyl welcomes on OIC Senior Policy Advisor David Forte and OIC Emergency Management Program Specialist Matt Stoutenburg to talk about what role FEMA plays in emergency management response situations, how grants from FEMA mitigate damage from extreme weather incidents, and what the loss of FEMA would mean for the National Flood Insurance Program and the availability of flood coverage in Washington state.

Gender-affirming care coverage with the state LGBTQ Commission Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

What rights to do you have when you’re in need of gender-affirming care? What’s covered, and where can you learn more and get help? On this Pride Month episode of OIC Answers, Commissioner Kuderer welcomes on Darlin Lozano and Sam Fennell from the Washington State LGBTQ Commission to discuss the LGBTQ Commission’s work, the hurdles involved in receiving care, and where to turn for help when seeking care.

Learn more about the LGBTQ Commission’s work at lgbtq.wa.gov.