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Are fireworks banned where you live? Check your insurance policy before you light them

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Before you celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, here are a few things to consider: Some cities in Washington state have banned fireworks. If you live in one of those cities and cause a fire with fireworks, your homeowner or renter policy may not cover the loss. Talk to your agent or broker, or read your policy to be sure.  Washington State Patrol has a list of cities that have banned fireworks for personal use, and a list of public fireworks displays.  More fires are reported on the Fourth of July than any other day, according to the National Fire Protection Association. On average, 250 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around July 4, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC reports that in 2016, 11,000 people were treated for fireworks-related injuries. Consumers can get help with their insurance or ask insurance-related questions by calling our consumer advocates at 1-800-562-6900
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Skipping commercial insurance is a bad idea for ridesharing drivers

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Driving your own vehicle for a ridesharing company —Uber and Lyft are the most well-known—has become a popular side gig. Some drivers are illegally using their personal auto policies to insure their vehicles. Rideshare drivers are not covered by their personal auto insurance policies. They are required to have a commercial or rideshare-specific auto insurance policy to cover them while they are driving for profit. In recent years, insurance companies have created products to cover drivers during the different periods – waiting to be hailed, en route to pick up a passenger, and while driving a passenger. Some of those policies are commercial, some of them are hybrid products that are in addition to your personal auto insurance. In addition, Uber and Lyft offer their own coverage for liability for passengers and third parties in the case of a collision. If you are a rideshare driver and file a claim with your personal, non-rideshare auto insurance company for a collision that happene
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New Medicare card scams hit nationwide

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Medicare started mailing new cards to beneficiaries in April and will finish mailing them nationwide in a year. In Washington state, beneficiaries will start receiving their replacement cards this July. The cards have a new look but, most importantly, they have unique numbers to replace the Social Security numbers previously used on the cards. Medicare created the new cards to reduce identity theft and fraud. New Medicare card design Ironically, fraudsters are capitalizing on the change to deceive beneficiaries. They may have many details about individuals, often gleaned from social media and other publicly available resources. They sound convincing. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) helps beneficiaries fight back. SMP staff work in communities across the country to teach beneficiaries how to prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. Here are some Medicare card scams that SMP is seeing: The new Medicare cards don’t cost anything! Scams:  Telling Medicare beneficia
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Insurance tips for recent college grads

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It's graduation season and lots of new college graduates are embarking on their career journeys. Many college grads find themselves needing to make important insurance-related decisions. By better understanding insurance policies and your needs at this stage, you can get the most out of the money you spend on insurance. Renter insurance Renter insurance can protect your personal property against damage or loss and also protects you in case someone is injured while in your residence. If you plan to rent an apartment or other residence, here is more information about how renter insurance works . You might be sharing your apartment or house with roommates. In this case, you likely need an individual policy that covers you and your possessions if something should happen. Speaking of your stuff, the best way to make sure you get reimbursed for your contents is to make a home inventory . Health insurance As you sort through job prospects, make sure salary isn't your only considerati
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SHIBA volunteers provide exceptional customer service to Medicare clients

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April marks National Volunteer Month and our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program recognizes the more than 400 people statewide who selflessly volunteer their time to help people navigate Medicare. They’re an integral part of the consumer protection work we do here at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. SHIBA volunteers assist people at a Spokane outreach event  During 2017, SHIBA volunteers: Assisted more than 87,000 Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers with one-on-one counseling in person and over the phone to help them: Evaluate their insurance needs.  Choose a Medicare plan. Choose a Medicare supplement plan.  Review long-term care options. Apply for low-income subsidies (to help pay for prescription drugs) and Medicare Savings Plans (to help pay Medicare Part A and B premiums, copays and deductibles). Educated more than 108,000 people about Medicare. Held more than 3,300 outreach events statewide. Last year, our volunteers donated 95,
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It’s never too soon to start planning for retirement

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Did you know that 2 million workers in Washington state don't have access to a retirement plan at work? Studies show that it's best to save for your retirement as early as possible. Even a few dollars a month can make a big difference 20, 30, or 40 years down the road. Washington state residents at any stage of life can look for a retirement plan at the state’s new retirement marketplace . Small businesses and individuals can find a low-cost plan that will help them save for retirement. Not sure how much you should save each month? The National Retirement Planning Coalition can help you calculate what you need to save based on what stage of life you are in at RetireOnYourTerms.org . The site features life-stage specific resources and tools to assist Americans achieve their long-term financial goals. Other resources from the insurance commissioner: Learn more about annuities  Learn more about Medicare  Locate an old life insurance policy
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How to get the most out of your dental insurance

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More than 249 million Americans had dental coverage at the end of 2016, according to the National Association of Dental Plans. Here’s some information about how to get the most out of your dental plan. Types of dental insurance Dental preferred provider organization (DPPO/PPO : These plans are popular because they allow covered consumers to choose from an array of dentists and dental specialists. The flexibility of PPOs trends toward higher costs for that type of coverage. Dental indemnity insurance : Consumers pay dentists directly for services rendered and later receive compensation from the insurance company through a sometimes lengthy claims-submission process. Discount dental/dental savings plans : Dentists agree to perform services for plan owners at a discounted price. Dentists are paid the discounted rate directly by the plan owner. What dental insurance covers Individual policies typically cover the following at 100 percent:: Preventive care : Cleanings, routine office visits 
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