OIC Answers on Insurance

Latest Episodes:

What does the Insurance Commissioner do? Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler took office in 2024 and is currently the longest-tenured state-level elected official in Washington state. But what does the commissioner actually do? With his term coming to an end, Commissioner Kreidler stops by the podcast studio to talk about what’s changed over the last 24 years, his accomplishments while in office, what he’s learned on the job and what advice he has for his successor.

How do I file a claim, anyway? (Part 2) Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

One of the most basic questions around insurance is just how to use it. What do you do when it’s time to file a claim? How do you know if filing a claim is the right move? What’s the time limit to file a claim, and how quickly does your insurance company have to respond? In this episode of OIC Answers, the hosts and a guest from our Consumer Protection team discuss how to file a claim. Part 2 of this two-part episode covers filing an homeowners claim. (Part 1 covered a homeowners claim.)

How do I file a claim, anyway? Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

One of the most basic questions around insurance is just how to use it. What do you do when it’s time to file a claim? How do you know if filing a claim is the right move? What’s the time limit to file a claim, and how quickly does your insurance company have to respond? In this episode of OIC Answers, the hosts and a guest from our Consumer Protection team discuss how to file a claim. Part 1 of this two-part episode covers filing an auto claim, while Part 2 will cover a homeowners claim.

Commissioner Kreidler discusses his work on climate change Dec 09, 2024

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Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is stepping down from public office in January after a long and storied tenure. In this episode of OIC Answers, Kreidler sits down with OIC Senior Climate Policy Advisor Jay Bruns to discuss his work on climate change, how the insurance industry and regulators have adapted climate change, and his legacy after 24 years in office.

What’s it mean to be underinsured? Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Whether your mortgage demands it or you’re just proactive, having insurance is a good thing — but what if it’s not enough? In this episode of OIC Answers we ask, what does it mean if I’m underinsured?

Recurring guest David Forte joins the hosts to dive into the claims data from last year’s Gray and Oregon Road fires, discuss wildfire mitigation efforts, and review how to make sure your home has enough coverage in the event of a worst case scenario.

Check out the OIC’s Wildfire Symposium: https://www.insurance.wa.gov/wildfire-symposium

How does flood insurance work? Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

Flood Awareness Week just wrapped up, but you should never stop being prepared for a flood. Most of the flood insurance in Washington comes through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Plan and more than 90% of Washington’s communities participate in the NFIP, meaning homes in those areas are eligible for coverage.

On this episode, Scott Van Hoff, a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Specialist with FEMA, discusses how the program works, why it exists, and FEMA’s role in helping people after a natural disaster.

More info on flood insurance (OIC

What to expect when you’re open(ly) enrolling in Medicare Oct 14, 2024

Show notes

Medicare open enrollment starts on October 15 and runs through December 7. What’s new with Medicare this year? What should you do to get ready? What questions do you need to ask and who can you call if you don’t have all the answers? Tim Smolen from the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors Program returns to the podcast for an open enrollment preview.

About SHIBA: Washington’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) volunteers provide free, unbiased and confidential help with Medicare. Call 1-800-562-6900 or visit www.insurance.wa.gov/how-we-can-help-you-medicare.

The pros and cons of getting a life (insurance policy) Sep 30, 2024

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The basic concept of a life insurance policy is simple, but the details can be complicated. On this episode of OIC Answers, insurance analyst Sharon Daniel joins the hosts to explain the different types of life insurance and answer hypothetical questions about dangerous hobbies, beneficiaries, and the combination of failed marriages and suspicious deaths.

What’s going on with home insurance? Sep 02, 2024

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Opening the mailbox and finding a letter from your home insurance company can be a scary moment. There might be higher premiums waiting in that envelope or, even worse, the insurance version of a “Dear John” letter — a non-renewal notice. On this episode of OIC Answers, policy analyst David Forte discusses why rates have gone up recently, how rating factors like location and construction type impact premiums, the availability of home insurance in Washington, what impact wildfires are having on the market, and whether or not your insurance company can use drones to check out your roof.

OIC Answers: How can I spot an insurance red flag? Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

A big part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s work is consumer protection. A lot of that work is done by our investigations team, which evaluates consumer complaints to see if there’s been a violation of the state insurance code. On this episode of OIC Answers, two of our lead investigators explain how the investigations process works and gives advice on how to spot red flags from insurance professionals.

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