Around the PIA Western Alliance States – Week of October 20, 2025

Alaska — Storm Damage Evacuees 18 Month Wait to Return Home: Remote villages in Alaska were hard hit by flooding a couple of weeks ago and it appears over 2,000 of the displaced villagers won’t be able to return to their homes for at least 18 months.

Governor Mike Dunleavy said most villages had their homes totally destroyed by the Category 2 hurricane force winds from the remnants of Typhoon Halong.

They’re now trying to figure out how to get the 2,000 or so out of shelters and into short-term housing.

“Due to the time, space, distance, geography, and weather in the affected areas, it is likely that many survivors will be unable to return to their communities this winter,” Dunleavy said. “Agencies are prioritizing rapid repairs … but it is likely that some damaged communities will not be viable to support winter occupancy, in America’s harshest climate in the U.S. Arctic.”

The governor has asked the White House to declare a state of emergency to help with funding.

Source link: Insurance Journal — https://bit.ly/4qnEohg

California — Powering opportunity and efficiency: Commissioner Lara highlights $6.7 billion economic impact of diverse businesses in insurance industry: California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced a new first-ever Economic Impact Report from the California Department of Insurance showing that insurance companies contracting with small and diverse-owned businesses contributed a total economic output of $6.7 billion to California’s economy, supporting more than 29,000 jobs and generating more than $917 million in state tax revenues.

“At a time when economic and social divisions threaten our communities, these results prove that inclusion is both a powerful economic engine and a path to help businesses thrive,” said Commissioner Lara. “This is a win-win for consumers. By encouraging insurance companies to contract with small and diverse businesses, they can help strengthen the economies of the communities they serve and provide better and faster services to help policyholders recover on their own terms.”

The findings were released by the Department’s Office of Insurance Diversity and Innovation, a new office established by Commissioner Lara to help expand equity and inclusion across California’s $400 billion insurance market considered the largest in the United States. The data was collected through the Department’s nationally-recognized Insurance Diversity Program, which advances transparency in supplier and board diversity within the insurance industry, and the report is considered to be the first of its kind nationwide.

Insurance companies reported spending $3.1 billion with diverse suppliers in California, resulting in widespread economic gains for insurers and small businesses across the state. These business procurements:

Created and supported 29,131 jobs statewide

Generated $2.4 billion in wages, salaries, and benefits

Produced $917.6 million in tax revenues for California

The Department also released the 2025 Insurance Diversity Index, a first-of-its-kind benchmarking tool that measures the extent to which insurance companies are integrating diversity into their procurement initiatives, strategic goals, governance policies, and board leadership. The Index shows that companies that commit to equity are outperforming peers — reinforcing a strong connection between inclusive business practices and sustainable growth, fostering greater consumer trust.

“Inclusion is smart business,” said Commissioner Lara. “Every dollar invested in a diverse supplier is more than double its economic impact that, in turn, multiplies in our local communities, builds jobs, and strengthens families. This is about being more efficient and creating a future where everyone has the chance to succeed.”

This year’s Insurance Diversity Summit, themed “Resilience Reimagined: Shaping an Inclusive Future,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders, small business owners, and community advocates. Participants explored how supplier and board diversity can drive innovation and resilience in an industry facing climate risk, demographic change, and social polarization.

The Summit spotlighted the leadership of the Insurance Diversity Task Force, including its first-ever all-women leadership team — Chair Vikita Poindexter and Vice Chair Dr. Fabiola Cobarrubias. Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, Chair of the California State Assembly Committee on Insurance, delivered the morning welcome remarks. “Inclusion closes opportunity gaps. This is how we keep California’s economy moving forward,” said Assemblymember Calderon. “I applaud Commissioner Lara and the Department of Insurance for uplifting small and diverse firms to build resilient local economies. This creates good jobs and delivers better outcomes for consumers across California—That’s a win for everyone.” A keynote plenary with Commissioner Lara and Katie Evans, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for CSAA Insurance Group emphasized how inclusion and equity are essential to a modern, resilient insurance market.

“In the face of global uncertainty, we are doubling down on inclusion and innovation here in California,” said Commissioner Lara. “Together, we are building an economy where diversity and inclusion continues to deliver results that drive even greater value for all Californians.”

Idaho — Director Cameron Appointed to the NIPR Board of Directors: The National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) announces the appointment of two new regulator members to its Board of Directors.

Dean L. Cameron, Director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, was appointed in 2015 and brings decades of experience in insurance and public service as a third-generation agent and Senate member. Cameron served 13 terms in the Idaho Senate, where he led key finance and insurance committees and sponsored numerous health care initiatives.

Michael T. Caljouw, Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner, joins the board following his October 2024 appointment by Governor Maura Healey. As Commissioner, he oversees the Massachusetts insurance market, an approximately $70 billion industry, and brings over 30 years of experience in regulatory and policy leadership across public and private sectors.

“We are honored to welcome Commissioner Caljouw and Director Cameron to the NIPR board,” said NIPR CEO Karen Stakem Hornig. “Their leadership and deep understanding of insurance regulation will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our support for state regulators and the industry.”

Idaho — Unfair Trade practices in marketing insurance products to Idahoans eligible for Medicare: The purpose of this bulletin is to clarify the Idaho Department of Insurance’s (the Department) perspective on unfair trade practices that lead to manipulation of the insurance market and withholding or denying access to products from Medicare-eligible consumers, and the applicability of Idaho Code § 41-1321 to such practices.

Applicability

This bulletin applies to all carriers and producers who offer any health insurance plans to Idahoans eligible for Medicare, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.

It has been brought to the Department’s attention that some insurance carriers, including those offering Medicare Advantage plans have attempted to restrict access by either removing the enrollment application from their website, encouraging producers to avoid selling their products, or changing or discontinuing producer compensation.

The Department views these practices as an unfair trade practice or method of competition under Idaho Code § 41-1321, which prohibits any method of competition or act in the business of insurance that is unfair or deceptive, even if not specifically enumerated in statute.

It is an inappropriate and unfair practice, with the potential for great harm to Idaho insurance consumers, for carriers to restrict access or dissuade consumers from buying a product that was filed to market in Idaho and priced accordingly. To maintain fair competition in these markets, carriers must:

make available and easily accessible their applications for enrollment in all forms, including printed, on-line on their website, and through their appointed agents;

not engage in convincing or suggesting their products not be sold, marketed or discouraging enrollment; not change compensation or commissions mid-year.

provide compensation or commissions if the product they filed had built compensation into its rate development.

Compensation or commissions is not a buffer against a bad market or a method to bolster profits. Discontinuing commissions on any insurance products disincentivizes producers from marketing these products to those who need them. This practice is especially concerning when the carrier has appointed independent agents, has historically paid commissions for the same products, the rate development for the products included commissions, or the carrier did not provide advanced notice that the plans would be “zero commission only.”

Conclusion

All carriers and producers operating in Idaho that offer insurance products to people eligible for Medicare are to act in good faith. All products filed and approved for sale must be made similarly accessible and marketed without artificial barriers or disincentives. If such products were filed or developed with an expectation to pay commissions, they should compensate producers accordingly. Only those carriers who expressly filed plans with a clear statement that the plan would provide zero commission are permitted to avoid compensating an appointed agent.  Carriers are strongly cautioned against any other artificial manipulations of the Idaho insurance market which would harm Idahoans eligible for Medicare.

All producers have an ethical and legal duty to put the best interest of the consumer first and are to assist the consumer in finding and acquiring the plan that best suits the consumer. Considerations of prescription drug coverage, provider access, overall cost, and affordability should be the priority.

The Department will closely monitor compliance and may take enforcement action under Idaho Code § 41-1321 against any carrier engaging in practices that manipulate the market or harm consumers.

This Bulletin is not new law but is an agency interpretation of existing law, except as authorized by law or as incorporated into a contract. Requests for additional information or other inquiries regarding this Bulletin can be directed to Market Oversight Bureau Chief Shannon Hohl at 208-334-4315 or shannon.hohl@doi.idaho.gov.

View this bulletin as a PDF — https://bit.ly/4hqGngW

Nevada: CREW Nevada Earthquake Guide: CREW released the Nevada Earthquake Guide for Insurance Agents! This is the second of two pilot guides (the first was the Oregon guide).

CREW was able to secure funding for the continuation of the series! So, we're now gearing up to create comparable guides for other states in the western US that have a high- to very-high earthquake hazard. We look forward to producing the other state guides over the coming year.

Source link: https://crew.org/earthquake-guides-for-insurance-agents/

New Mexico — FAIR Plan Limits Raised: New Mexico’s Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) has raised the state’s FAIR Plan commercial property coverage limit to $2 million. The decision the previous limit of $1 million.

The decision to double the limit is to help improve access to coverage for businesses who struggle to get policies due to wildfire risk and high rebuilding costs.

Source link: Insurance Business America — https://bit.ly/3JkyNYt

Oregon — Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, CFTC secure final judgment against precious metals firm that defrauded seniors: Final judgment against Safeguard Metals LLC and Jeffrey Ikahn orders restitution and a civil monetary penalty; underscores commitment to protecting seniors from investment fraud

Salem – The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), along with several other states, announced today that the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has entered a final judgment imposing about $25.6 million in restitution and an equal civil monetary penalty against Safeguard Metals LLC and its owner, Jeffrey Ikahn, for operating a fraudulent scheme targeting elderly and retirement-aged people.

The judgment stems from a fraudulent scheme conducted by the defendants from October 2017 through at least July 2021. On Oct. 25, 2023, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and 30 state regulators announced a settlement with the defendants through a consent order that found the defendants liable for employing a nationwide scheme. The consent order also enjoined the defendants from future violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, as well as future violations of state laws and regulations set forth in the complaint.

“The court’s final judgment in this matter provides meaningful restitution to investors harmed by this fraudulent action and it reinforces that DFR will take decisive action to protect investors, especially those in vulnerable communities,” said TK Keen, DFR administrator. “Thank you to the CFTC and state regulators for their dedication and hard work.”

According to the court’s findings, the defendants solicited about $68 million, the majority of which was retirement savings, from at least 450 people for the purpose of purchasing precious metals, primarily consisting of silver coins. The court found that defendants systematically and widely disseminated false and misleading information and failed to communicate material facts to customers and fraudulently overcharged Safeguard Metals’ customers for the precious metals they sold.

“This outcome is an important reminder that state securities regulators play a critical role in fighting investment fraud in all forms,” Keen said.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a parallel action against the same defendants in February 2022. The court entered partial judgments by consent in 2023 and, in May 2025, ordered Safeguard and Ikahn to pay about $25.6 million in disgorgement, an equal civil monetary penalty, and prejudgment interest. Any amounts paid in the SEC matter will be offset against any amounts paid in the judgment announced today and vice versa.

The case was brought by the CFTC in partnership with state regulators from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Washington — Consolidated health care prepublication draft comment period extended to October 24, 2025: We have extended the comment period for the consolidated health care rule (R 2025-12) prepublication draft through October 24, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. The initial comment period began on October 6, 2025. Comments can be sent to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.

The insurance commissioner is considering consolidated health care rulemaking due to the recent passage of insurance-related legislation and other changes in law. Currently, multiple provisions of health care and insurance regulations in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) may need to be updated to be consistent with legislation passed and codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and recent federal law changes. This consolidated rulemaking aims to implement the following: 

Chapter 25, Laws of 2025, aligning the implementation of application programming interfaces for prior authorization with federal guidelines; 

Chapter 96, Laws of 2025 concerning coverage requirements for prosthetic limbs and custom orthotic braces; 

Chapter 336, Laws of 2024 concerning treatment of substance use disorders; 

Chapter 171, Laws of 2025 increasing access to prescription hormone therapy; 

Chapter 219, Laws of 2025 ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices; 

Updates to the Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plan;

Updates to the ground ambulance local rate submissions; and

Other related legislation and laws. 

For more information, including the text of the prepublication draft, please visit the rule's webpage. 

Washington — The Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Health Care Authority(HCA) are co-hosting two upcoming webinars related to behavioral health services: The Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Health Care Authority(HCA) are co-hosting two upcoming webinars related to behavioral health services. These webinars are offered as an educational opportunity for carriers and their staff, including those who are involved in benefit design, clinical policy development, provider credentialing, provider network design, provider contracting, regulatory and legislative affairs, and other related functions. OIC and HCA encourage participation by carriers.

The first webinar, Understanding New Categories of Behavioral Health Providers and their Scope of Care, will be held on October 29, from 10-11am PST. It will include discussion of the new Certified Peer Support Specialist credential, behavioral health support specialist, and psychological associate professions. Please register in advance here: https://wa-oic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9QsN2BwISyyCOTQRwKFsfw

The second webinar, Evidence-based Team-based Models of Behavioral Health Care, will be held on November 17 from 11am-12:30pm PST. It will include discussion of New Journeys (for individuals experiencing first episode psychosis), Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) for children and youth, and Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT). Please register in advance here: https://wa-oic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__S0eDfgtRo2eEfzDv27OPw

Washington — R 2025-06 Supplemental long-term care insurance prepublication draft comment period extended through October 22, 2025:  We have extended the comment period for the supplemental long-term care insurance rule (R 2025-06) second prepublication draft through October 22, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. The initial comment period began on October 10, 2025. Comments can be sent to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.

This rule will implement Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5291 by creating a new chapter within Title 284 WAC specific to supplemental long-term care, and amending various other sections within Title 284.

For more information, including the text of the second publication draft, please visit the rule's webpage.