Office address: 5000 Capitol Blvd SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
Website: insurance.wa.gov
Year established: 1907
Employees: 280+
Key people: Patty Kuderer (insurance commissioner); Charles Malone (chief deputy commissioner); Sandy Ray, Andrew Davis, and Bryon Welch (deputy commissioners); Dory Nicpon (chief legal officer); Tom Zuvela (CFO)
Operating budget: $93.5 million (2025–27)
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) oversees insurance to safeguard consumers and keep the market fair. It helps keep insurance companies strong, supports consumer rights, and strengthens Washington’s economy over the long term.
The Washington OIC became an independent agency in 1907 by transitioning from its earlier role within the Secretary of State's office. This change allowed for an elected commissioner to oversee insurance regulation.
Here are some key moments in the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s history:
The Washington OIC today remains a trusted part of the state’s efforts to keep insurance just, affordable, and reliable for everyone.
The OIC operates under the authority of Title 48 of the Revised Code of Washington. This gives the agency the legal power to regulate the insurance industry across Washington.
The OIC achieves its mission through oversight, enforcement, and consumer education. It is led by an elected insurance commissioner, a role currently held by Patty Kuderer since 2025.
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner also has several divisions, which include:
Other divisions include policy and legislative affairs division, operations division, and more. They help protect the rights and financial security of Washington residents.
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner handles several important duties to support consumers and regulate insurance fairly:
These responsibilities allow the agency to manage the insurance market with strong oversight and practical consumer support.
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner also supports broader community goals through training programs, partnerships, and inclusive outreach efforts:
These efforts help the OIC extend its impact beyond regulation by building trust, improving access, and strengthening community connections.
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) is focusing on climate change, billing transparency, and wildfire insurance challenges.
In 2023, it held a Wildfire Symposium to study how wildfires are changing insurance markets across Washington. New rules now require insurers to clearly explain premium increases to consumers.
Other current initiatives include:
These actions show the OIC’s push to update regulations and protect consumers as insurance risks and costs continue to change.
The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner protects consumers through complaint handling and insurance education. Its Consumer Advocacy Program helped recover over $15 million for Washington residents in 2025.
The OIC also runs public awareness campaigns on flood insurance, Medicare counseling, and insurance literacy programs. It offers free tools like complaint databases and rate comparison guides to help consumers make smart choices.
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Consumer was led to believe that he would be entitled to a higher refund
The two conspired to defraud Esurance after one of them revealed that she did not have insurance
The embattled insurance startup is the subject of an investigation by the California Department of Insurance
When data is breached, you must report that to the state as quickly as possible and may need to outline what you are doing about it
