Northwestern Regulators Eye Health Insurer Surplus

The Washington Department of Insurance will hold a public hearing 1 p.m. Dec. 8 to review a proposal for limiting health insurance carriers’ surplus.[@@]

“Given today’s climate where carriers are experiencing record profits, yet health insurance premiums continue to rise faster than the rate of inflation, we need to ask, ‘How much is too much?’” says Washington State Insurance Commissioner Michael Kreidler.

The Washington department is inviting health and disability insurers to participate in the hearing and will give the insurers a list of questions before the hearing starts, officials say.