Commissioner's powers — Forms — Rates — Standard provisions — Withdrawal of approval — Federal, state benefits — Annual reports.
RCW 48.21A.060
in effectThe forms of the policies, applications, certificates or other evidence of insurance coverage and applicable premium rates relating thereto shall be filed with the commissioner. No such policy, contract, or other evidence of insurance, application or other form shall be sold, issued or used and no endorsement shall be attached to or printed or stamped thereon unless the form thereof shall have been approved by the commissioner or thirty days shall have expired after such filing without written notice from the commissioner of disapproval thereof. The commissioner shall disapprove the forms of such insurance if he or she finds that they are unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading or deceptive or that the rates are by reasonable assumption excessive in relation to the benefits provided. In determining whether such rates by reasonable assumptions are excessive in relation to the benefits provided, the commissioner shall give due consideration to past and prospective claim experience, within and outside this state, and to fluctuations in such claim experience, to a reasonable risk charge, to contribution to surplus and contingency funds, to past and prospective expenses, both within and outside this state, and to all other relevant factors within and outside this state including any differing operating methods of the insurers joining in the issue of the policy. In exercising the powers conferred upon him or her by this chapter, the commissioner shall not be bound by any other requirement of this code with respect to standard provisions to be included in disability policies or forms. The commissioner may, after hearing upon written notice, withdraw an approval previously given, upon such grounds as in his or her opinion would authorize disapproval upon original submission thereof. Any such withdrawal of approval after hearing shall be by notice in writing specifying the ground thereof and shall be effective at the expiration of such period, not less than ninety days after the giving of notice of withdrawal, as the commissioner shall in such notice prescribe. If and when a program of hospital, surgical and medical benefits is enacted by the federal government or the state of Washington, the extended health insurance benefits provided by policies issued under this chapter shall be adjusted to avoid any duplication of benefits offered by the federal or state programs and the premium rates applicable thereto shall be adjusted to conform with the adjusted benefits. The association shall submit an annual report to the insurance commissioner which shall become public information and shall provide information as to the number of persons insured, the names of the insurers participating in the association with respect to insurance offered under this chapter and the calendar year experience applicable to such insurance offered under this chapter, including premiums earned, claims paid during the calendar year, the amount of claims reserve established, administrative expenses, commissions, promotional expenses, taxes, contingency reserve, other expenses, and profit and loss for the year. The commissioner shall require the association to provide any and all information concerning the operations of the association deemed relevant by him for inclusion in the report.
The forms of the policies, applications, certificates or other evidence of insurance coverage and applicable premium rates relating thereto shall be filed with the commissioner. No such policy, contract, or other evidence of insurance, application or other form shall be sold, issued or used and no endorsement shall be attached to or printed or stamped thereon unless the form thereof shall have been approved by the commissioner or thirty days shall have expired after such filing without written notice from the commissioner of disapproval thereof. The commissioner shall disapprove the forms of such insurance if he or she finds that they are unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading or deceptive or that the rates are by reasonable assumption excessive in relation to the benefits provided. In determining whether such rates by reasonable assumptions are excessive in relation to the benefits provided, the commissioner shall give due consideration to past and prospective claim experience, within and outside this state, and to fluctuations in such claim experience, to a reasonable risk charge, to contribution to surplus and contingency funds, to past and prospective expenses, both within and outside this state, and to all other relevant factors within and outside this state including any differing operating methods of the insurers joining in the issue of the policy. In exercising the powers conferred upon him or her by this chapter, the commissioner shall not be bound by any other requirement of this code with respect to standard provisions to be included in disability policies or forms.
The commissioner may, after hearing upon written notice, withdraw an approval previously given, upon such grounds as in his or her opinion would authorize disapproval upon original submission thereof. Any such withdrawal of approval after hearing shall be by notice in writing specifying the ground thereof and shall be effective at the expiration of such period, not less than ninety days after the giving of notice of withdrawal, as the commissioner shall in such notice prescribe.
If and when a program of hospital, surgical and medical benefits is enacted by the federal government or the state of Washington, the extended health insurance benefits provided by policies issued under this chapter shall be adjusted to avoid any duplication of benefits offered by the federal or state programs and the premium rates applicable thereto shall be adjusted to conform with the adjusted benefits.
The association shall submit an annual report to the insurance commissioner which shall become public information and shall provide information as to the number of persons insured, the names of the insurers participating in the association with respect to insurance offered under this chapter and the calendar year experience applicable to such insurance offered under this chapter, including premiums earned, claims paid during the calendar year, the amount of claims reserve established, administrative expenses, commissions, promotional expenses, taxes, contingency reserve, other expenses, and profit and loss for the year. The commissioner shall require the association to provide any and all information concerning the operations of the association deemed relevant by him for inclusion in the report.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.21A&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026