Washington Insurance Commissioner Fines Insurers $1M This Year for Violations

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has fined insurance companies nearly $1 million so far this year for violating Washington insurance laws, violations that include charging unapproved rates, improper advertising and failing to offer health coverage to children.

The fines collected are deposited in the state’s general fund to pay for other state services.

“Insurance can be complicated, and consumers deserve protection,” Kreidler in a statement.

Fines and other disciplinary actions against insurers from June to September include:

• UNUM Life Insurance Co., Portland, Me.: Fined $75,000 for selling long term care coverage using unapproved policies.
• Allstate Insurance Co., Northbrook, Ill: Fined $50,000 for issuing policies using unfiled and unapproved rates.
• UnitedHealthCare, Hartford, Conn.: Fined $26,000 for sending people wishing to appeal the insurer’s decisions to the wrong entity.
• Arch Insurance Co., Kansas City, Mo.: Fined $20,000 for violations including failing to keep adequate accounts and records.
• Chicago Title Insurance Co., Omaha, Neb.: Fined $10,000 for improperly advertising with producers of title insurance business.
• Lifewise Health Plan of Washington, Mountlake Terrace, Wash.: Fined $10,000 for failing to offer coverage to children in certain cases.
• Metropolitan Life Insurance, New York, NY: Fined $10,000 for failing to calculate benefit amounts in accordance with Washington law.
• Victoria Fire & Casualty Co., Cleveland, Ohio: Fined $5,000 for failing to adequately respond to inquiries.
• Fidelity National Title Insurance Co. (Santa Barbara, Calif.) Chicago Title Insurance Co. and Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. (both of Omaha, Neb.): Ordered to stop offering discounts to producers of title insurance business.

Orders and details about each of these cases are posted online at the Washington insurance commissioner’s website.

Topics Carriers Washington