Now hiring: Insurance Technician 1

We are accepting applications for an Insurance Technician 1 in our Tumwater office. This is an entry-level position for someone who is interested in getting experience working with insurance regulation.

Duties include:

• Examining and evaluating insurance company filings.
• Updating insurance company information in our database.
• Doing preliminary preparation of financial analysis of insurance filings.
• Assisting managers with preliminary data gathering for reports and projects.
• Posting information to OIC's intranet and external website.
• Assisting with public disclosure requests.
• Customer service.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position requires three years of clerical experience and knowledge of Microsoft Office software. Applications are due by close of business on July 22. Read more about this position or apply at careers.wa.gov.

STP ride means extra traffic, road closures

This weekend is the Seattle-to-Portland bicycle ride, when an estimated 10,000 bicyclists will take to the roads and trails that span the 200-mile route. An estimated 80 percent of the riders will camp overnight in Centralia, which is the midpoint on the ride. The rest will finish the ride in one day. Ouch.

Drivers in and between Seattle and Portland should be extra alert for cyclists this weekend. There are many road closures related to the ride and there is likely to be heavy traffic at both ends of the ride. Here are some insurance considerations for drivers and cyclists alike.

What happens if there is a collision between a cyclist and a car?

Auto insurers are required by law to offer personal injury protection (PIP) when you buy an auto policy. It covers, up to certain limits, expenses like medical bills, loss of wages and loss of services. PIP applies no matter who is at fault—so even if the accident isn’t the driver’s fault, PIP will pay for covered expenses. You don’t have to purchase PIP, but if you don’t reject it in writing, your insurance company has to add it to your policy and charge you for it. If you aren’t sure if you have PIP, contact your agent or broker. You can read more about PIP, including who it covers and certain exclusions.

Cyclists who have PIP on their own auto policies could also invoke their own coverage, but it would be secondary to the driver’s PIP.

What happens if my bike is damaged or stolen during the ride?

Bicycles typically are covered under homeowner and rental polices if they are stolen, lost or damaged in a residential fire. If the damage is related to a collision with a vehicle, the driver’s auto policy may cover the loss if the collision was the driver’s fault. If you own several very expensive bikes, you may want to talk to your agent or broker about coverage options and whether there are policy limits on bicycles.

Best of luck to all of the riders and be safe, whether you are driving or riding.

New rule repeals transplant waiting periods for health insurance

A new rule took effect July 3 to eliminate waiting periods for transplants. Before the change, insurance companies could impose a waiting period for transplants of no longer than 90 days. 

OIC undertook emergency rulemaking to bring state insurance rules into alignment with the federal Affordable Care Act. Under the ACA, transplants are one of the essential health benefits, which are required benefits under the Affordable Care Act.

The new rules don’t require health insurance plans to modify their policies mid-year, but they do require plans to identify and notify enrollees who may be affected by this rule change. Starting in 2015, health plans will remove transplant waiting periods from policy language.

This rule change was widely supported by insurers, medical providers and consumer advocates. You can find the concise explanatory statement with the comments and the final rules on our website.

Do you have emergency management experience? Apply at OIC!

OIC is hiring an Emergency Management Program Specialist 3, who will be responsible for the agency's emergency preparedness and for building and maintaining strategic partnerships to minimize impacts to agency business and consumers resulting from major emergencies and disasters. The Emergency Management Program Specialist 3 is the agency’s expert in all matters related to continuity of operations, emergency management planning and interacting with state and federal emergency management agencies and programs.

The person in this position is responsible for agency disaster recovery, and providing day-to-day operational support and assistance for facilities as well as serving in a back-up capacity for telecommunications and facilities matters.

Required qualifications include a bachelor's degree; and three years' experience working with government statutory and/or regulatory requirements, emergency management planning and exercises. Desired qualifications include experience working with state and federal emergency management agencies, experience developing continuity of operations plans and experience working with decision-makers. This position is open until filled.

View the full job description or apply: Emergency Management Program Specialist 3

Before you hit the water, make sure your boat is covered

Boating is a popular pastime in Washington state, with 157 miles of coastline and more than 453 water recreation sites run by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and 19 marine parks run by the state Parks Commission. 

No matter what type of boat you own, you should talk to your agent about getting it insured against a loss. Small boats, such as canoes and kayaks, may be covered by your homeowner policy. Larger boats and personal watercraft, including Jet Skis®, likely require their own policy. Read more about boat insurance. Your best bet is to contact your agent or broker, or find one if you don’t have one. 

The state has a website for boaters, boat.wa.gov, run by the state Recreation and Conservation Office. It has information about mandatory boater education, boating safety requirements, registering your boat and trailer, and information about fishing and recreational boating.

Don’t forget, many places where you launch a boat require a state Discover Pass, a Natural Investment Permit or some other form of a launch or moorage permit.
  

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Have fun safely this Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July is the quintessential summer holiday, but it’s also one of the busiest days for public safety agencies. Do your part by being safe around fireworks and in general.  

Insurance policies generally cover fires that are accidental in origin. We recommend you talk to your insurance agent or broker about your coverage in the event of a fire or injury on your property. 

Many municipalities in Washington have banned the use of fireworks. Washington State Patrol has a list of fireworks laws in Washington cities. They also have a list of public fireworks displays in Washington. 

If guests are injured by a personal display of fireworks, the homeowner policy may include medical coverage and personal liability coverage. View the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has an infographic about fireworks injuries.

Here are some tips from the CPSC on fireworks safety:

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Parents don't realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Douse spent fireworks device with water from a bucket or hose to prevent a trash fire.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.

Find more information about your insurance on our website.

Summer road trip essentials: luggage, cooler, insurance

Summer is a busy time on Washington roads and many people will be traveling this holiday weekend, which is a three-day weekend for a lot of us. Before you hit the road, it’s important to understand your auto insurance policy.

Be prepared
Always keep a copy of your current insurance card, along with your registration and any other paperwork you keep in the car.

Ask your insurance agent to explain the important elements of your policy to you, including your deductible and liability limits. You may even want to consider adding uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage to your policy if your insurance company offers it. This clause could help protect you if you are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, and the accident was their fault.

If you are the parent of a teen driver, sit down with them and talk about the risks of unsafe driving before you hand over the keys. Research shows that teens whose parents establish rules associated with driving privileges are less likely to get in a crash. Read some tips on how to prepare your teens for safe driving.

If you are involved in an accident
Getting into an accident can be stressful and chaotic; it’s difficult to remember what to do immediately following a collision. Many people are unsure about what information they need to share with and collect from the other driver. Washington State Patrol has pointers for drivers who are involved in a collision.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has a free mobile app called WRECKCHECK for iPhones and Android devices. The app takes you step-by-step through creating an accident report, allows you to take photos of the scene and document only what is necessary to file an insurance claim. You can even send the completed accident report to yourself and your insurance agent. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can download a printable checklist to keep in your car with your other documents. 

Filing a claim
It’s best to start the claims process as soon as possible, while the details of the accident are still fresh in your mind. Report the accident to your insurance company. You will need the police or incident report, your insurance information, and a copy of the accident report you created at the scene. Your insurance company will walk you through the claim process and can tell you whose coverage will pay for damage, rental car expenses or medical costs as a result of the accident.

Take notes during conversations with insurance companies, claims adjusters or auto shops, including names and contact information of people you speak to.

Read more about understanding auto insurance, what happens if your car is totaled, filing an insurance claim and more on our website.