How Cars Get Classified as Group 1 For Insurance

Within the Uk, each and every vehicle manufactured for that marketplace is put into an insurance group. There's, however one slight ex...

Wednesday is the deadline to get a health plan for Jan. 1

Consumers have until Dec. 23 to sign up for a health plan through Washington Health Benefit Exchange for coverage that begins on Jan. 1. The...

Join telephone town hall to get answers to your questions about Social Security, Medicare

Join the King County Library System (KCLS) for a live telephone town hall meeting with specialists from the Social Security Administration a...

Need help with Medicare? Events being held around the state through summer

Consumers get help at a SHIBA event in Washington state The Office of the Insurance Commissioner has a program that helps Washingtonians sig...

Gov. Inslee honors Cowlitz County SHIBA volunteer

From right: SHIBA Volunteer Coordinator Terri Osbourne, volunteer Elouise Maahs and volunteer coordinator Sarah Clark Congratulations to SHI...

If I switch health plans halfway through the year, can my deductible be transferred or prorated?

Insurance companies are not required to credit money consumers already paid in  cost sharing from prior plans but sometimes they do for emp...

Most colonoscopies should be covered 100% by your insurance

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires that insurance companies cover 100 percent of the cost of preventive colonoscopies for adults older t...

Protect yourself from Medicare fraud

The Insurance Commissioner�s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program is Washington state�s Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)...

Have a quick question? Try our new live chat

This week is National Consumer Protection Week and the OIC is one of the many government agencies that helps protect consumers from financia...

Helping Washington consumers is our mission

This week is National Consumer Protection Week and the OIC is one of the many government agencies that helps protect consumers from financia...

How to get health insurance if you missed open enrollment

If you missed open enrollment and didn't sign up for health insurance by Jan. 31, 2016, you may have to wait until next year's open ...

Who determines how much my totaled car is worth?

We hear from many consumers who are trying to resolve their auto total loss claims with their own insurer or another insurer. A total loss i...

Not sure if we can help you with an insurance problem? Ask us anyway

Recently, a Washington consumer posted a story on Facebook about her brother, who was on the waiting list for a heart transplant but was bei...

Insurers should be current on emerging treatments for consumers

A growing concern for consumers and health insurers is the cost of prescription drugs and specifically, treatment for debilitating and life-...

My insurance premium went up. How can I find out the reason for the increase?

Consumers frequently ask us this question. Your agent or insurer should be able to provide you with an explanation other than �there was a g...

If you find yourself the subject of an insurance fraud investigation, the best thing to do is cooperate

Our consumer advocates respond to thousands of inquiries from Washington consumers each year. Sometimes, we hear from people who are the sub...

Medicare offers weight loss program

A new year has started and many of us have set weight loss as a goal. You may be thinking of looking into one of the many weight-loss progra...

There�s still time to get a health plan for 2016

Consumers have until Jan. 31 to sign up for a health plan for 2016 coverage. People who do not have a health plan for 2016 face a penalty on...

Is there a drone on your shopping list? You might want to talk to your agent or broker

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates more than one million drones will be sold this holiday season. Everyone from photographe...

No health insurance for 2015 or 2016? You may be facing a tax penalty

If you can afford health insurance but you choose to not enroll in coverage for 2016, you may be required to pay a fee when you file your 2...