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PODCAST

OIC Answers on Insurance

Washington State OIC

Insurance is confusing, but we’re here to help. This podcast from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) answers all kinds of questions about insurance in the Evergreen State, from Medicare to homeowners insurance claims to car insurance premiums. Hosts Aaron and Matt interview OIC staffers with expertise in different types of insurance to help make a complicated subject a little more easy to understand.

government

All Episodes

00:20:38

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

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/12/30

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.)

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00:14:52

How do I file a claim, anyway?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/12/23

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.

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00:37:02

Commissioner Kreidler discusses his work on climate...

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/12/09

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.

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00:32:13

What’s it mean to be underinsured?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/11/27

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:

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00:24:03

How does flood insurance work?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/10/21

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

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00:18:47

What to expect when you’re open(ly) enrolling in...

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/10/14

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

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00:21:54

The pros and cons of getting a life (insurance policy)

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/09/30

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.

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00:26:21

What’s going on with home insurance?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/09/02

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

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00:25:17

OIC Answers: How can I spot an insurance red flag?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/08/12

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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00:20:59

OIC Answers: Why is MY car insurance getting more...

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/07/29

Auto insurance rates took a jump in 2023, which meant an increase in monthly costs for people almost everywhere. What happened? Was it a Washington-specific issue? Why doesn’t the Insurance Commissioner just say “no” to rate increases? And why did MY costs go up when I haven’t even wrecked a car or gotten a ticket in years? On this episode of OIC Answers, Senior Policy Advisor David Forte helps the hosts address all the questions and theories they’ve heard about auto rates over the last year.

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00:18:46

OIC Answers: Is pet insurance worth the money?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/07/15

More than 5 million pets in the United States were covered by insurance plans in 2023, but the coverages and costs vary quite a bit between pets and plans. Accidents, surgeries, prescriptions, illnesses and emergencies are usually covered, while dental care and behavioral problems usually aren’t — and pre-existing conditions remain a point of confusion. Washington has about 4% of the country’s covered pets, and in this episode of OIC Answers, our hosts ask a consumer protection expert if the

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00:20:37

OIC Answers: Is this health care sharing ministry too...

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/07/01

Health care sharing ministries offer what may look like affordable health coverage, but there’s often a few details in the fine print that leave members short of funds when big medical bills come due. On this episode of OIC Answers, Deputy Commissioner Michael Marchand helps answer questions about what, exactly, a health care sharing ministry is, what they might not cover, and how the OIC works to prevent them from selling insurance illegally.

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00:19:24

OIC Answers: How to avoid Medicare fraud⁠

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/06/10

On this Medicare Fraud Prevention Month episode of OIC Answers, Kim McKenna — our Senior MedicarePatrol program coordinator — discusses the most common Medicare-related scams, how to keep yourself safe from fraud, what to do when you think you’re being targeted in a scheme, and how the Senior Medicare Patrol works. For questions about reporting a concern to Washington State Senior Medicare Patrol, you can call our Insurance Consumer Hotline at 1-800-562-6900 or submit in writing at

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00:08:27

OIC Answers: What's a transparency rule?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/05/27

Each episode of OIC Answers addresses a question about insurance in Washington state or the OIC’s work. On this episode, Andrew Davis from the OIC's Policy team discusses the state's new premium change transparency rule and what your insurance company is now required to do if you ask (in writing) about your premium increase upon renewal.

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00:16:10

OIC Answers: Am I ready for a natural disaster?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/05/13

Each episode of OIC Answers addresses a question about insurance in Washington state or the OIC’s work. On this episode, Amy Teshera from the OIC's Consumer Advocacy Program talks about what happens (from an insurance standpoint) after a natural disaster damages or destroys your home, and how the OIC helps people navigate the claims process after a large-scale event.

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00:15:34

OIC Answers: What if I'm (Medi)scared?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/04/29

Each episode of OIC Answers addresses a question about insurance in Washington state or the OIC’s work. On the second episode, Tim Smolen – director of the OIC’s SHIBA Program – returns to explain how the volunteer-driven Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors Program works to help Washingtonians get free, unbiased advice about Medicare. Call SHIBA at (800) 562-6900!

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00:15:13

OIC Answers: What if I don't (Medi)care?

OIC Answers on Insurance ·

2024/04/10

Each episode of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s podcast, OIC Answers, addresses one question about insurance in Washington state or the OIC’s work. On the first episode, Tim Smolen – director of the OIC’s SHIBA Program – answers beginner-level questions about enrolling in Medicare.

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37 results

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