Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Legislative priorities for 2010

Bills to improve health care, protect consumers and ban the use of credit scoring are all on our legislative agenda for 2010.

We also have a number of narrower bills, designed to streamline things like the licensing of agents and brokers (now known in Washington as "producers") and setting up a separate license for crop adjusters.

Here's a quick look at some of the proposals:

Health reform: This is still in flux, depending on what happens at the federal level. But our office has proposed a health plan for all Washingtonians that would cover basic preventive care and full protection from catastrophic medical costs over $10,000 a year. Whatever the specifics from Congress, it's clear that states will play a major role in implementing reform nationally. We're ready to help.

Credit scoring: We're seeking to prohibit the use of credit history, education and income for rating and underwriting personal insurance.

Conversion coverage: When an employer's health insurance is canceled, workers have 31 days to take out a replacement -- or "conversion" policy from the employer's former insurer. To prevent a situation in which workers learn of the cancellation too late to qualify for the new coverage, we want the law to indicate that the 31-day window begins when the employee is notified that the policy's been canceled.


 

 



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