Washington State Dings Insurer Over Names on Checks

Officials in the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner say they discovered the name use problem while conducting a market analysis in 2018, and a market conduct exam triggered by the analysis, according to a copy of a consent order posted on the agency’s website.

“The company responded to the examiner’s findings with reasons for some uses of improper legal name, but did not dispute that the names used were in fact incorrect,” according to the consent order. “The company made corrections to ensure that its legal name is used in its future correspondence to consumers and providers. It did not mail corrected correspondences to members or providers, stating, ‘While the name of the carrier may have been incorrect, all contact information was correct and no other items on the document would have changed.’”

UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc. has consented to the entry of the order, but the “the facts of this order, and any provision, finding or conclusion contained herein does not, and is not intended to, determine any factual or legal issue or have any preclusive or collateral estoppel effects in any lawsuit by any party other than the insurance commissioner,” according to the order.

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