WSR 26-15-123 (26-15)

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Allowing additional noninsurance benefits in life and group disability insurance policies.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 48.02.060 (3)(a), 48.21.380 (1)(f), 48.21.380(2), 48.23.525 (1)(e), 48.23.525(3), 48.24.280 (1)(f), and 48.24.280(2).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 48.23.525, 48.24.280, and 48.21.380 allow specific noninsurance benefits to be included in individual and group life insurance policies and group disability insurance policies. Each of these statutes also grant the office of the insurance commissioner (commissioner) authority to allow insurers to offer additional noninsurance benefits by rule. The commissioner is considering rule making to allow insurers to offer additional noninsurance benefits to consumers.

This rule making may include regulations regarding the disclosure of allowed noninsurance benefits including, but not limited to, guidelines regarding the coverage provided under a policy or certificate of insurance. This rule making may also include regulations regarding the circumstances under which the commissioner may disapprove any proposed noninsurance benefit if the commissioner finds that the proposed benefit may tend to promote or facilitate the violation of any other section of Title 48 RCW.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Comment period opens at 8:00 a.m. on July 22, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on August 5, 2026.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Rules Coordinator, 302 Sid Snyder Avenue S.W., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-7171, fax 360-586-3109, TTY 360-586-0241, email rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov, website www.insurance.wa.gov.