Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler disciplined and issued fines in June totaling $328,000 against insurance companies, agents, brokers and others who violated state insurance regulations.
The actions are linked to the disciplinary order that contains more information about each action.
Insurance companies
Delta Dental of Washington, Seattle; fined $10,000
The dental insurer changed its name in 2014 and used its old name on forms it filed with the Insurance Commissioner. The Insurance Commissioner rejected the forms and the company agreed to update them, but failed to do so for a year. In the meantime it sold plans to consumers without the Commissioner’s approval for the plan or the associated rates. It self-reported the error to the Commissioner.
Lexon Insurance Co., Louisville, Ky.; fined $3,000
The company canceled a consumer’s policy without giving the consumer at least 45 days’ notice and failed to tell the consumer the reason for canceling the policy.
National Union Fire Insurance Co., Pittsburgh; fined $300,000
The company issued blanket policies to 27 groups that were not eligible for blanket insurance and 53 policies before they were approved by the Insurance Commissioner. It also sold accident policies to volunteer and professional fire departments before the Commissioner approved the policies.
Transamerica Casualty Insurance Co., Columbus, Ohio; fined $10,000
Transamerica’s travel insurance policies incorrectly stated the timeframe within which an accidental death or accident loss must be reported for claims.
Agents and brokers
Immanuel Baah, Everett; fined $250
Baah failed to disclose his criminal history on his application for an insurance producer’s license.
Cristina Iglesias Francis, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; fined $500
Francis negotiated and sold insurance in Washington without a license.
Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings LLC, Lutz, Fla.; fined $250
The agency sold insurance policies in Washington through its website using an unregistered trade name.
Jeremiah Job, Seattle; fined $1,000
Job, while assisting another insurance agent, signed a form for replacement life insurance that contained inaccurate information that may have misled the consumer.
Sabal Insurance Group, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; fined $1,500
Sabal sold insurance to a Washington business without a license, falsified information on the application and forged the client’s signature before submitting it to the underwriter.
Other
XCEL Testing Solutions, Jacksonville, Fla.; fined $1,500
XCEL offered pre-licensing education courses to Washington consumers without being licensed and without getting the Insurance Commissioner’s approval for the courses.
About the Office
Kreidler’s office oversees Washington’s insurance industry to ensure that companies, agents and brokers follow state laws. Since 2001, Kreidler’s office has assessed more than $18 million in fines, which are deposited in the state’s general fund to pay for other state services.
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner posts disciplinary orders against companies, agents and brokers. Consumers can also look up complaints against insurance companies.
For an insurance question or complaint, contact the Insurance Commissioner’s consumer advocates at 800-562-6900 or online.
