Washington Considers Adding Noninsurance Benefits to Life, Disability Policies

Washington — Prepublication draft posted for allowing additional benefits in life and disability insurance (R 2026-03): The Commissioner released a prepublication draft for the allowing additional benefits in life and disability insurance rulemaking (R 2026-03).

This proposed rule would allow additional noninsurance benefits in life and group disability insurance policies. This rulemaking aims to ensure that consumers can access noninsurance benefits that may be of value but are not allowed by current law.

Current law allows insurers to offer certain specific noninsurance benefits in individual and group life insurance and group disability insurance policies. Noninsurance benefits include services like preparing a will, financial and estate planning, probate and estate settlement, and others. The Commissioner has authority to identify other allowable services by rule.

The Commissioner believes that consumers may benefit from access to additional noninsurance benefits and is considering rulemaking to expand the list of benefits that insurers can offer.

The comment period for this prepublication draft began at 8 a.m. on August 31, 2026, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on September 14, 2026. Please send comments to rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov.

For more information, including the notice to start rulemaking (CR-101) and prepublication draft text, please visit the rule webpage.