Around the PIA Western Alliance States – Week of October 26, 2026

Arizona — Current Trend Reveals Hidden Vehicle Thefts: As we close the third quarter of 2026, the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority (AATA) reports a 21% year-to-date decline in vehicle thefts from 2025. As a reminder, in 2025, Arizona experienced the fewest reported vehicle thefts since AATA’s inception in 1992. However, these numbers do not tell the whole story. Current trends show thieves using new methods to steal vehicles, and these methods don't always show up in the statistics.

As advancing technologies make newer vehicles harder to steal, thieves have evolved their methods to obtain them. Current trends show criminal organizations are using fake or stolen IDs to finance or lease a vehicle, but they don’t stop there. They quickly create fake paperwork to hide the vehicle's lien, often using out-of-state titles, then sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. This often happens before the financial institution that owns the lien becomes aware of the fraud. Some law enforcement agencies treat these schemes as civil matters, so they aren't reported or reflected as stolen vehicles in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.

Recently, a local car dealer reported someone trying to sell vehicles with possibly fraudulent titles to the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF). The VTTF discovered a subject selling six vehicles, including an Audi RS Q4, an Audi RS Q7, a BMW I7, and three Mercedes-Benz GLEs valued at over $750,000. All vehicles had lien-washed titles and were linked to fraudulent purchases tied to a foreign criminal organization. This is one example of how stolen vehicles go unreported because these financial institutions were unaware of the fraud. This case is one of many the VTTF is actively investigating.

These trends are evident both in Arizona and nationwide. Criminal organizations are evolving to profit by fraudulently obtaining high-dollar vehicles, rather than stealing a larger volume of lower-value vehicles. Criminal organizations often resell these vehicles to unsuspecting victims or take them out of the country. The AATA will continue working with the VTTF and vertical prosecutors to detect and fight this and all new trends.

California — As governments, financial institutions, scientists, Indigenous leaders, and policymakers gather in Yerevan, Armenia, for the Seventeenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced the creation of the California Green Ribbon Commission on Nature, Biodiversity and Insurance, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to better understand how biodiversity and ecosystem health influence risk, economic security, and the future of insurance.

The Commission positions California at the forefront of an emerging global conversation regarding biodiversity, risk, and the future of insurance. Its creation reflects California's commitment to helping shape a growing understanding that biodiversity is increasingly relevant to disaster risk, insurance affordability and availability, and long-term market stability.

The announcement comes at a pivotal moment. CBD COP17 marks the first global review of progress toward implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the international roadmap to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. As governments assess progress and identify pathways for implementation, global institutions are increasingly recognizing that healthy ecosystems help reduce losses, strengthen resilience, and support economic prosperity.

As climate pressures intensify and disaster losses grow, biodiversity is becoming increasingly relevant to the risks insurers, businesses, and communities must manage. The health of forests, wetlands, watersheds, and other natural systems increasingly influences the frequency, severity, and cost of disasters.

The Green Ribbon Commission will bring together leaders in insurance, biodiversity science, conservation, Indigenous stewardship, finance, climate adaptation, engineering, and public policy to develop practical recommendations that advance understanding of these emerging connections and identify opportunities to better integrate nature into risk management and insurance decision-making.

"For generations, biodiversity and insurance were treated as separate conversations. The reality is that they are becoming increasingly connected. Healthy ecosystems reduce risk, protect communities, strengthen economic security, and influence the future availability and affordability of insurance,” said Commissioner Lara. “As the world gathers at COP17 to chart the future of biodiversity, California is launching a first-of-its-kind effort to better understand the role nature plays in managing risk. Through this Commission, we intend not only to participate in the global conversation surrounding biodiversity and insurance, but to help define it. The future of resilience, insurability, and economic security will increasingly depend on the health of the natural systems that protect us."

A New Conversation About Risk

Recent work by the United Nations and the global insurance sector has highlighted how healthy ecosystems can reduce risk and strengthen resilience, while ecosystem degradation can amplify losses and increase systemic risk. The Commission will examine how insurers, investors, regulators, and policymakers can better account for nature's protective value while improving long-term economic and insurance outcomes.

Commissioner Lara also released Nature's Balance Sheet: Biodiversity, Risk, and the Future of Insurance, the Founding Vision of the California Green Ribbon Commission on Nature, Biodiversity and Insurance. The publication outlines California's framework for understanding the relationship between biodiversity, risk, economic security, and the future of insurance.

Why California

As the world's fourth-largest economy, California faces some of the most significant climate-related risks in the world while also possessing extraordinary ecological diversity. Its forests, wetlands, watersheds, coastlines, and other natural systems play a vital role in reducing disaster risk and supporting economic stability.

Throughout his tenure, Commissioner Lara has championed efforts to modernize insurance regulation, address climate-related challenges, and strengthen market resilience. The Green Ribbon Commission represents the next evolution of that work and positions California at the forefront of an emerging field that seeks to better understand the relationship between biodiversity, risk, and insurance.

Founding Commissioners

The Commission brings together leaders from Indigenous communities, academia, conservation organizations, insurance, finance, and state government, including representatives from First Nations, the Karuk Tribe, Stanford University Doerr School of Sustainability, The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, the California Department of Insurance, and other leading institutions.

Together, the Commission will examine how biodiversity and ecosystem health influence risk, identify opportunities for nature-based risk reduction, explore the role of Indigenous stewardship in resilience planning, and develop recommendations that strengthen both ecological and economic outcomes.

“The insurance industry is uniquely positioned to shift markets toward nature-positive investment and risk practices,” said Dave Kuhn, World Wildlife Fund. “By aligning insurance products and capital flows with ecosystem protection and restoration, we can reduce risk at the source. This Commission will help unlock that potential.”

“For Indigenous peoples, the relationship with land, water, and the living world is foundational,” said Don Hankins, Miwok Practitioner. “Our communities carry generations of knowledge about how to steward ecosystems in ways that sustain life and reduce harm. I am honored to contribute this perspective as the Commission works to ensure that nature, people, and cultural wisdom are woven into solutions that protect all communities while also addressing biodiversity conservation and climate solutions.”

About the California Green Ribbon Commission on Nature, Biodiversity and Insurance

The California Green Ribbon Commission on Nature, Biodiversity and Insurance was established by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to examine the relationship between ecosystem health, biodiversity, risk reduction, insurance markets, and economic security. The Commission will develop practical recommendations that advance understanding of how nature influences risk while identifying opportunities to strengthen resilience, support biodiversity, and improve long-term economic outcomes.

California — California sets global standard for insurance resilience as Commissioner Lara finalizes landmark long-term: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara finalized the Long-Term Solvency Planning Regulation, establishing a first-in-the-nation framework requiring California-based insurance companies to prepare for climate risks, artificial intelligence, cyber threats, and other emerging challenges that could affect their financial strength and ability to pay claims over the coming decades.

The regulation provides the California Department of Insurance with additional forward-looking information and tools to identify vulnerabilities earlier, strengthen oversight, and address potential financial concerns before they become larger problems for policyholders or the insurance market.

“Climate change, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity threats, and other developments are already reshaping the future of insurance,” said Commissioner Lara. “Waiting until those challenges become crises is not a strategy. We are acting now to ensure insurers are preparing for what lies ahead so they can continue keeping their promises to consumers. Every consumer who pays an insurance premium deserves confidence that their insurance company will be there when they need it most, not only today, but years from now.”

Preparing Insurance Markets for the Decades Ahead

Through Commissioner Lara’s work with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors and other global initiatives, he has helped develop guidance addressing climate-related financial risk, catastrophe resilience, and long-term insurance supervision. The regulation brings those lessons into California’s financial oversight framework within the nation's largest insurance market and draws on Commissioner Lara’s years of international collaboration and forward-looking planning approaches used by financial authorities including the Banque de France, Bank of England, Bank of the Netherlands, Canada’s chief insurance regulator, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

California - based insurance companies will now be required to evaluate how climate risks, artificial intelligence, cyber threats, technological disruption, and other developing challenges and opportunities could affect their financial strength, operations, investments, and underwriting strategies over time. Companies will provide the Department with forward-looking information about how they are analyzing and preparing for these risks, with enhanced requirements for companies writing more than $50 million in direct annual premiums nationwide.

The final regulation builds on the framework that Commissioner Lara proposed this June, which was followed by a public hearing in July, and caps years of work during his nearly eight-year tenure as Insurance Commissioner to modernize California’s insurance oversight. This regulation will also help give future Insurance Commissioners a lasting framework to protect consumers and keep the insurance market stable as risks continue to evolve and change.

Strengthening Consumer Protection Before Crisis Strikes

Every insurance policy is a promise. Consumers pay premiums today with the expectation that insurance companies will financially be able to pay claims tomorrow. The regulation strengthens the ability of regulators to monitor developing risks before they threaten that promise and requires covered insurance companies to prepare for challenges before they become financial vulnerabilities.



“This regulation reflects a simple belief: protecting consumers means preparing for the future, not reacting to it,” said Commissioner Lara. “The questions confronting California are increasingly the same questions confronting insurance regulators around the world. This framework ensures that we are not simply responding to those conversations but helping shape them.”

What Leaders and Experts Are Saying

“Long-term solvency strategies for insurance companies are foundational to financial resilience in the face of technological change and climate threats,” said Yoshihiro Kawai, Chair of Global Asia Insurance Partnership (GAIP) and Southeast Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF). “Forward-looking risk management tools, like scenario analysis, bring together planning for emerging risks and closing insurance protection gaps, which are both critical for future sustainability.”

“Resilience is a shared responsibility that requires cross-border cooperation and a long-term commitment from insurance supervisors. Commissioner Ricardo Lara’s leadership and sustained commitment have been instrumental in making climate resilience and catastrophe risk key priorities on our shared agenda” said Guillermo Plate, President of the Association of Insurance Supervisors of Latin America and Superintendent of Insurance of Argentina. “Forward-looking strategies for long-term solvency can help build more resilient insurance markets and better protect our communities against future risks.”

“Insurance risks do not stop at national borders, which makes collaboration among regulators more important than ever,” said Steven Rothstein, Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator. “Commissioner Lara has been a strong partner on creating climate risk strategies and turning international lessons into action in California. His regulation shows how forward-looking, accountable planning can strengthen future insurance supervision, better protect policyholders, and lead to more sustainable economies.”

“The combined impacts of advances in risk assessment technology and damaging weather events associated with climate change are profoundly altering the property insurance ecosystem,” said Amy Bach, Executive Director of United Policyholders. “Effectively coordinating with other regulators and stakeholders with a forward looking eye to ensuring that insurance safety nets will continue to be in place for people and businesses impacted by disasters will be part of Commissioner Lara's legacy of leadership in a fast-evolving commercial environment. We commend him and his administration for advancing this important regulation.”

“We are in an era of rapidly changing risks, from the rising impacts of weather-related extremes as the planet warms to the breakneck pace of technological change,” said Carolyn Kousky, Executive Director and Founder, Insurance For Good. “Improving our risk management and investing in reducing risk, however, takes time and insurers should not begin this work only after losses have been devastating. By asking insurers to plan for 2030, 2040 and 2050, California is pushing the industry to prepare for the risks that are coming, not just the ones we’ve already seen.”

Idaho — Kuna Man Commits Fraud: The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) announced that Justin Moss of Kuna has been sentenced for insurance fraud following a fraud unit investigation.

On July 17, 2026, Moss pleaded guilty to two counts of insurance fraud. The charges stemmed from a claim he filed with Progressive Insurance after reporting that a Maravia Williwaw whitewater raft and personal property had been stolen. The claim sought payment of more than $17,000.

The Department's investigation found that Moss never owned the raft. Investigators determined that Moss obtained the raft's serial number from the actual owner while the boat was listed for sale, but never purchased it. The owner later confirmed the raft had not been sold and remained in her possession.

On October 7, 2026, Moss was sentenced in Ada County to five years in prison, suspended in favor of five years of probation. He was also ordered to serve 60 days in jail and pay fines and restitution.

"Attempting to collect insurance benefits for property you do not own is fraud,” said Dean L. Cameron, Director of the Idaho Department of Insurance. “This case highlights the value of careful investigation and strong partnerships in protecting Idaho consumers and insurers from fraudulent activity."

Idaho — Department of Insurance Appointed Rehabilitator for Idaho School Benefit Trust: On September 24, 2026, in the Fourth Judicial District Court, Ada County, an Order of Rehabilitation, case number CV01-26-17631, was issued appointing Director Dean Cameron of the Idaho Department of Insurance (the “Department”) as Rehabilitator of the Idaho School Benefit Trust.

The Director, through his authority and powers as Rehabilitator, and in compliance with Chapter 33, Title 41, Idaho Code, will henceforth oversee all operations of the Trust.

The acts of the Rehabilitator are reportable to and supervised generally by the District Court. The Rehabilitator’s actions are separate and maintained with strict controls apart from the Department’s ongoing examination of the Trust, which was called on August 3, 2026. Whereas the Rehabilitator will control the Trust going forward, the examiners continue to investigate the underlying cause(s) of the Trust’s hazardous financial condition.

The Department will be expressly clear as to the capacity from which it is communicating in these separate roles. In both respects, the Department remains committed to providing complete information on the underlying causes of the Trust’s condition as soon as they are reasonably verified and publicly disclosable.

As Rehabilitator, member schools and school districts of the Trust should understand and remember the following:

The Rehabilitator’s first purpose, pursuant to Idaho Code § 41-3301(4), is to protect the interests of the insureds. For the Trust this includes the participants – the teachers, employees, eligible retirees, and their dependents.

The Department, as Rehabilitator, will of course continue to inform and work with every school district. At the same time, the Rehabilitator must act in compliance with and follow Idaho law to enforce the contractually agreed upon terms of the Trust and the Participation Agreements that every member school district executed. This includes a responsibility to pursue the collection of debts and other legal remedies when appropriate and when doing so protects the interests of the participants.

Rehabilitation of the Trust will be conducted with as minimal interference as possible.

The day-to-day claims processing and servicing of all policies will continue to be performed by Blue Cross of Idaho as the Trust’s third-party administrator in the 2025-2026 plan, and as the insurer for the group’s 2026-2027 plan. This will ensure the greatest continuity of coverage for participants. School district questions can be sent to Blue Cross of Idaho at ISBTAcctTeam@bcidaho.com. Please include the Rehabilitator at ISBT@doi.idaho.gov.

Beyond paying claims as promised, the expenses and contracts of the Trust are being reviewed and scrutinized by the Rehabilitator. Any uneconomical, unnecessary, or otherwise avoidable costs will be curtailed or eliminated wherever fiduciarily conducive. If a school district or participants notice any interruption to their coverage or benefits, which the Department intends to minimize, they should contact the Rehabilitator at ISBT@doi.idaho.gov.

Any savings, recovered funds, or accrued amounts resulting from the Rehabilitator’s actions will ultimately be returned to the employer members of the Trust on a proportional basis; equitable to how their contributions have been assessed.

The Department is not assessing any fees to the Trust for its services as Rehabilitator, nor for the examination.

The District Court’s Rehabilitation Order reinforces the importance of executing the Trust’s cure, which includes borrowing surplus to cover its shortfall and pay claims. In turn, contribution calls were issued by the Trust and those funds will ultimately repay the borrowings that were issued.

The surplus note has been fulfilled, enabling the Trust to pay claims. School districts that have responded expeditiously and appropriately, without any prior contributions in arrears , are seeing their participants’ claims processed.

Pursuant to the terms of the Trust document and the Participation Agreement that every participating school executed, the plan administrator is holding and not paying the claims of covered employees and dependents of delinquent school districts. It is imperative that every school district’s leadership recognize the harm that is inflicted on their participants if they are in arrears or have not selected either a lump sum or monthly payment plan. The monthly selection does require an executed Addendum to the Participation Agreement for the monthly payments to be legally collected without being delinquent.

As Rehabilitator, the Department must follow the law and the terms that school districts agreed to. Rehabilitator authority does not circumvent the contractual terms agreed to between the Trust and schools, nor can the third-party administrator collect sums and pay claims for districts that are delinquent. Delinquent districts should contact the Rehabilitator at ISBT@doi.idaho.gov immediately.

The Trustees and contracted vendors to ISBT are not excused from their responsibilities. In fact, they are enjoined by the District Court Order of Rehabilitation from transactions or actions that might waste assets of the Trust.

The Trustees will continue to serve, but their decision authority is vested in the Rehabilitator. No actions may be taken without the express written permission of the Rehabilitator. Likewise, vendors and contractors to the Trust cannot alter their services or obligations to participants without written consent. Note that no parties are absolved from fully cooperating with the examination of the Trust.

The duty of the Rehabilitator is to take actions appropriate to reform and revitalize the Trust, as set forth in Idaho Code § 41-3314(2). Appropriate enforcement and repercussions are also under the authority of the Department.

Every member school district of the Trust should know that the Department is aligned first and foremost to protect the covered participants, and secondly to identify and disclose how the Trust became financially hazardous.

Communication from the Trust has been limited to date, in part, because of the Department’s intervention upon learning of the Trust’s insolvency. As Rehabilitator, the Department is fully committed to keeping broader and more consistent channels of communication open with the school districts. The Department welcomes your questions and inquiries, with the understanding that it must abide by, and can only share what is permissible under the law.

Legitimate concerns and frustration are understandable. Unfortunately, some parties have been motivated to point fingers and make unfounded accusations, which is harmful to the overall investigation process. The Department respectfully asks all parties to allow for due process and the Department’s authority granted under Idaho Insurance Law to run its course. If there has been any wrongdoing, abuse, or inappropriate depletion of funds from the Trust, the Department’s examination will identify and verify them. Thereafter, the law charges the Rehabilitator with the recovery, if any. Should the Department discover administrative or criminal violations, the Attorney General and law enforcement will be involved, where appropriate.

The Idaho Department of Insurance is very committed to promptly resolving the issues and investigating the causes of the shortfall. The Department is grateful to the member districts who have signed the agreements and are assisting in that effort. The Department is also grateful to Blue Cross of Idaho for being willing to provide the Trust with the funds to pay the claims of the participants.

Montana — $4.4M Multistate Settlement with Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch: Montana Auditor James Brown joined securities regulators from several other states in securing a $4.4 million settlement agreement in principle with Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch after the firms were caught charging unreasonable commissions to retail customers.

The State Auditor’s Office participated in a multistate investigation that determined Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch charged unreasonable commissions on more than 256,000 equity transactions and trades over the past five years.

The investigation was spearheaded by Massachusetts and supported by Montana, Alabama, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas, Washington, and the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA).

From September 30, 2020, to October 1, 2025, Wells Fargo charged unreasonable commissions on approximately 228,243 transactions, totaling nearly $3.9 million. In the same timeframe, Merrill Lynch charged unreasonable commissions on approximately 28,162 small-dollar transactions, totaling nearly $549,000 in excessive commissions.

Impacted customers in the participating states, including those in Montana, will receive restitution plus interest. Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch must also pay administrative fines and costs associated with the investigation.

“I’m proud to have worked with securities regulators across the country to stand up for Americans who had their hard-earned money unduly taken by these firms,” Auditor Brown said. “That money will now be returned to where it belongs: with Montana families.”

Without admitting or denying the findings of the investigation, Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch agreed to the following terms:

Restitution – Affected Montanans will receive restitution equal to the amount of commission charged in excess of 5% of the principal trade amount, plus 6% interest, for the relevant period in each settlement, with certain limited exclusions.

Fines – Wells Fargo has agreed to pay an administrative fine of $2,014,000; Merrill Lynch will pay $397,500.

Policy Changes – Each firm must update its policies, procedures, and compliance systems to ensure commissions on equity transactions do not exceed 5% of the principal amount and that all transactions are monitored for excessive commission charges.

Cease and Desist & Censure – The firms agreed to receive a censure, and they must permanently cease and desist from charging unreasonable commissions and from failing to supervise the application of minimum commission charges.

In 2025, Auditor Brown successfully negotiated and secured similar settlement agreements with TD Ameritrade (formerly Charles Schwab), Edward Jones, LPL Financial, RBC Capital Markets, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. As a result of the settlement agreements, over the past two years Auditor Brown has secured significant fines, millions of dollars in restitution for investors, and corrective actions from firms to ensure Montana consumers are not taken advantage of in the future.

“I’m not afraid to take on the largest Wall Street financial firms when their conduct harms everyday Montanans. Thanks to my team’s hard work, thousands of Montanans will receive restitution checks in the near future,” Auditor Brown added. “This is just another step in keeping life affordable for my fellow Montanans.”

As Montana’s chief securities regulator, Auditor Brown is committed to protecting Montanans against illegal practices in the industry and pursuing accountability for wrongdoing. For more information on Auditor Brown’s work, visit the agency website at csimt.gov.

Montana — State Auditor James Brown Secures More Than $72K for Montana Securities Fraud Restitution Fund: In a win for Montana consumers, State Auditor James Brown has secured more than $72,000 in additional contributions to Montana’s Securities Fraud Restitution Fund. The restitution monies were secured through negotiated enforcement settlements reached with entities that failed to properly file legally required notices of business activity in the Treasure State.

Since May 2026, Auditor Brown has secured $72,400 in additional contributions to the restitution fund through 11 agency enforcement agreements. Specifically, issuers of certain types of securities that are exempt from registering with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) still must timely notify the State Auditor’s Office of the date and amount of their first sale of the security in Montana as well as identify any commissions paid.

In addition to the financial contributions, the agreements require noncompliant businesses to review and strengthen internal compliance processes, ensure timely and complete filings, and provide updated contact and filer information to the Auditor’s Office.

“Montana’s Securities Fraud Restitution Fund is a critical tool for helping victims recover from fraud,” Auditor Brown said. “By securing additional funding through these negotiated enforcement settlements, my agency can help more Montanans who have had their lives upended by bad actors get back on their feet financially.”

The restitution fund provides financial assistance to Montana residents harmed in cases prosecuted or administered by the Securities Division at the Auditor’s Office. Montana is one of just seven states with such a fund.

The fund has provided $126,081 in restitution to seven Montana victims of securities fraud so far this year. Applications submitted before October 1 are under review; recommendations for additional restitution payments will be made later in October.

Victims of securities fraud can apply for assistance through the restitution fund by downloading and completing the application form HERE. If your case has not been reported or investigated by the Auditor’s Office but you believe you might qualify for financial assistance, please contact the agency at 406-444-2040 or through its website, csimt.gov.

Nevada - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Announces Changes to Provider Networks: The Nevada Division of Insurance received notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) regarding changes to Kaiser Permanente’s Senior Care Plus program.

CMS states that on December 13, 2026, Kaiser Permanente Nevada (formerly Hometown Health) will have changes to its Medicare Advantage (“MA”) provider network impacting the following contract: H2960. The provider termination pertains to Kaiser Permanente Nevada’s contract with Senior Care Plus, which could impact people living in Carson City, Storey, and Washoe counties.

As a result of this significant change, affected members are eligible for a Special Election Period (“SEP”) with Medigap guaranteed issue (“GI”) rights. Affected members are those enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Nevada’s plans who are assigned to, are currently receiving care from, or have received care within the past three months from a provider or facility being terminated from the Medicare Advantage provider network. The SEP begins the month enrollees are notified by their plan of eligibility for the SEP. The SEP ends two calendar months after the month in which enrollees are notified of their eligibility. This SEP can be used only once per significant change in the provider network.

Insurance Commissioner Ned Gaines contacted CMS and asked them to review the decisions and Special Election Period. “This situation threatened to disrupt access to quality healthcare for many Northern Nevadans, and I applaud Commissioner Gaines and the Division of Insurance for working with the federal government to help protect Medicare beneficiaries and preserve their access to current providers," said Governor Joe Lombardo. "I encourage all affected members to act promptly, review their options during the Special Election Period, and make sure their healthcare coverage continues to meet their needs.”

Consumers should be on the lookout for a notification letter. Medicare Advantage organizations are required to notify affected members of their SEP eligibility with a letter, including information about how to utilize the SEP, their Medigap GI rights, and the length of the SEP. If a member is not affected, then that individual will not be eligible for the SEP and will not receive a letter from the MA organization.

Individuals who use this SEP to elect Original Medicare will have Medigap GI rights under federal law to purchase Medigap plans A, B, C, D, F, and G unless they turn 65 after January 1, 2020, and are prohibited from purchasing plans C and F. Please note that beneficiaries who turned 65 before January 1, 2020, are precluded from purchasing Medigap plans D or G. The GI Rights begin 60 days before the MA plan coverage ends and end 63 days after the MA plan coverage ends. States may have laws that provide more Medigap protections.

Commissioner Gaines urges impacted consumers to take advantage of this opportunity to change plans to ensure they continue to have access to their preferred primary care physician. Commissioner Gaines encourages consumers to engage a trusted producer who is well-versed in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. These plans can be complicated; a trained producer can assist consumers in selecting the plan that best fits their needs and includes the specific providers they want in the plan network.

Impacted consumers can also seek assistance from CMS directly through their Enrollment and Eligibility Mailbox at https://enrollment.lmi.org/DEEPmailbox/mailbox/.

Oregon — Oregon joins $2.5 million settlement with crypto kiosk operator: The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation and 33 other state financial regulatory agencies have reached a $2.5 million settlement with Coinme Inc., a Seattle-based cryptocurrency money transmitter and kiosk operator, for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) laws that safeguard the financial system from illicit use.

Under the terms of the settlement, Coinme has agreed to terminate its virtual currency kiosk operations by Jan. 1, 2027, or face an additional $4 million penalty. The settlement amount will be allocated among participating states based on transaction volume. Oregon will receive $101,425.34 as part of the settlement.

In addition, Coinme has agreed to hire an independent consultant to review the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of its BSA/AML program and submit a report to the states within six months. Coinme will have 12 months to correct any deficiencies found in the review after the report is filed.

“State regulation of money services exists to protect consumers from scams and bad actors,” DFR Administrator TK Keen said. “DFR will continue to take action against companies that pose unfair risks to Oregon consumers.”

Cryptocurrency kiosks are frequently used in connection with fraud and other criminal activities, so DFR urges caution before consumers use kiosks.

“Nobody legitimate, be it the IRS, a utility, a bank, or a sweetheart you’ve never met, will tell you to feed money into a cryptocurrency kiosk,” Keen said. “If someone does, stop and call local law enforcement.”

Consumers can visit NMLS Consumer Access to verify that a company is licensed to do business in Oregon and can view if there are past enforcement actions against the company or individual.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud or have questions, you can reach out to one of DFR’s consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or email dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.

Washington — Quicker responses, more transparency for consumers added to claims process: If you file an insurance claim in Washington, you can expect faster responses and more transparency from your insurance company, thanks to updated claim handling rules from Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer.

The rules, which took effect on Oct. 18, clarify and update the standards that apply to insurance companies in the process of handling a claim. That includes the timeframes for responding to your questions, completing claim investigations, and determining the amount you are owed.

“Most claims are processed without incident, but sometimes policyholders are left without a clear understanding of their claim’s progress,” Kuderer said. “The new rules will maintain a fair claim environment for consumers and provide transparency into the process that affects their financial recovery.”

The rules hadn’t changed since they were adopted in 1978.

The updates:

Reinforce that any unfair claims practice can violate state law (RCW 48.30.010) by removing language about the frequency of the violations.

Establish specific timelines and documentation requirements for communication, investigations, denials, and payments. Insurance companies can’t deny a claim before conducting an investigation that doesn’t solely rely on the use of a database. They must notify you within 30 days if your claim has been accepted or denied, and provide updates every 30 days if your claim is delayed.

Set detailed standards for auto damage and total loss claims, including inspection requirements, communication standards, data sources for valuations, and how additional damage must be handled. If an insurance company uses a database to account for pricing or labor rates, it must give you details about that database when you ask for it. You can also request an in-person inspection if your insurance company uses virtual photos you don’t think are accurate.

Improve transparency by requiring insurance companies to explain denials, provide policy references, share valuation reports, and disclose data sources used for the valuation of your vehicle.

Strengthen your right to access your own claim file and require your insurance company to explain what they redact.

Background

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner held a workshop in 2023 in response to a historic increase in auto claims complaints. More than 80% of the complaints filed with the OIC leading up to the workshop cited claim handling issues.

OIC staff considered input from hundreds of consumers, consumer advocates, the defense and plaintiffs’ bar, and the insurance industry during the rulemaking process.

Washington — Washington suicide rate rises in 2025, with increases among youth, older adults and rural communities: At least 1,352 Washington residents died by suicide in 2025, at a rate of 15.5 deaths per 100,000 people, according to new data from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Adults 65 and older saw the largest increase in deaths of any age group, from a rate of 19.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2024 up to 23.3 in 2025. Other significant rate increases were among youth ages 10 to 17, people living in rural communities, and American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic people.

The 2025 State Suicide Report indicates an increase in Washington’s suicide rate from 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, but that rate remains below the 2017 peak of 16.9 deaths per 100,000. Washington’s suicide rate is higher than the national average of 13.7 deaths per 100,000, according to preliminary data from the CDC, but lower than rates in Oregon (19.6), Idaho (20.6), and Alaska (31.0).

“Every number in this report is a person – someone’s child, parent, friend, or neighbor,” said Michele Roberts, assistant secretary of DOH’s Prevention and Community Health Division. “These increases are difficult to see, and they reinforce the importance of supporting people of all ages, including our young people. But suicide can be prevented – through better human connection, better support for our most at-risk communities, and better data. We will continue working with Tribal partners, schools, families, and communities across the state to make sure everyone knows help is available and how to reach it.”

More young people lost to suicide

Suicide deaths among youth ages 10 to 17 rose from a rate of 4.7 per 100,000 people in 2024 to 7.7 per 100,000 in 2025. Most of this increase was among male-identified youth. Among young people ages 10 to 17, the largest increase in the number of suicide deaths was among 12-year-olds and 17-year-olds.

Higher rates in rural communities

Some rural counties saw the number of suicide deaths double or even triple from 2024 to 2025. Because rates are based on population size, even a few more deaths can cause a big jump in a small community’s rate. This means rural areas can have higher rates than cities, even though most suicide deaths overall happen in larger counties.

Increases among American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic people

Suicide rates among American Indian/Alaska Native people remain much higher than the statewide rate. Their rate of 28.8 per 100,000 people in 2025 was 86% higher than the state’s overall rate. Among Hispanic people, the rate rose from 8.5 in 2024 to 9.9 in 2025 per 100,000. Rates also rose among White, non-Hispanic people (from 15.8 in 2024 to 17.6 in 2025 per 100,000) and Black, non-Hispanic people (from 11.9 in 2024 to 13.9 in 2025 per 100,000).

Prevention strategies and encouraging data

The reason for these increases is difficult to determine because the underlying causes of suicide are a complex mix of biological, social, and environmental factors. In May 2025, DOH released the 2025 State Suicide Prevention Plan, a 10-year strategic vision for reducing deaths by suicide in Washington state. The primary tenets of the plan focus on enhancing well-being and connectedness as a key protective factor, developing multi-sector suicide prevention strategies, improving treatment and support services, and increasing research and data collection for suicide prevention.

One program that has resulted from this work is Washington’s Find Your People, a tool that helps people find opportunities for social connection in their local communities based on shared interests, abilities and experiences. While Find Your People primarily focuses on supporting older adults, this tool is open to all Washington residents looking for ways to enrich their personal connections with others.

Additionally, a study published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was linked to fewer suicide deaths among teens and young adults across the U.S. The drop was larger in states where more people used 988, including Washington, which has seen a similar trend.

Where to get help

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available:

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For help in Spanish, press 2 or text AYUDA to 988. American Indian and Alaska Native people in Washington can press 4 to reach the Native and Strong Lifeline, staffed by Native crisis counselors.

Crisis Text Line focuses on both crisis intervention and prevention, providing free, 24/7, confidential support through a text-based platform. Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States.

The AgriStress Helpline is a crisis line for people working in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. It includes crisis and emotional support, suicide intervention and prevention, and a database of both mental health and agriculture-related resources. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 833-897-2474.

Learn the warning signs and how to help on the DOH Suicide Prevention webpage.

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