Washington Commissioner’s Orders Insurers to Extend Policyholders Protections for Wildfires

Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued an emergency order requiring all property/casualty insurers to provide additional protections for policyholders impacted by the Gray and Oregon Road fires.

The emergency order was made possible by Gov. Jay Inslee’s emergency declaration. It applies to homeowners, renters, auto, and commercial insurance policies in areas affected by wildfires and extends until Oct. 17. Once an emergency declaration is made, Kreidler has the authority to issue emergency orders impacting the insurance industry and policyholders in Washington.

“We’ve all seen the devastation caused by the ongoing wildfires in Eastern Washington,” Kreidler said in a statement. “People are worried about their own and their families’ safety and protecting their property. I don’t want them to have to worry about losing their insurance coverage while the emergency is ongoing and the difficult recovery for the community begins.”

The order directs insurers to:

• Provide grace periods of up to 45 days for non-payment of premium.
• Cease from canceling any policy for non-payment, unless requested by the policyholder.
• Suspend the 45-day notice requirement for nonrenewal notices.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Carriers Wildfire Washington