WSR 26-15-124
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
OFFICE OF THE
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
[Insurance Commissioner Matter R 2026-04—Filed July 21, 2026, 5:18 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Clarifying adverse notification requirements.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Current administrative rules require insurer adverse notifications to include contact information for the Washington state office of the insurance commissioner (commissioner) so that consumers can contact them with questions, concerns, or information about their appeal rights. Adverse notifications include, but are not limited to, claim denials, claim payments less than the submitted claim amount, and policy cancellations and nonrenewals.
Current rules do not require insurers to include their own contact information, and consumers have expressed difficulty identifying the appropriate insurer contacts to discuss adverse notifications. Consequently, consumers may not be receiving timely assistance when they have questions or concerns regarding their claims. In addition, the current reference to appeal rights creates confusion because not all insurance policies provide a right to appeal.
The commissioner is considering amending WAC 284-30-770 to ensure consumers receive insurer contact information within adverse notifications and to revise references to appeal rights that are not applicable to all insurance policies. These changes would reduce consumer confusion; facilitate timely claim assistance; and promote clear, accurate, and consistent communication between insurers and consumers.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The public comment period began at 8:00 a.m. on July 22, 2026, and will close 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.goc [rulescoordinator@oic.wa.gov], website www.insurance.wa.gov.
July 21, 2026
Patty Kuderer
Insurance Commissioner