Washington state puts public long-term care program change on ballot

One insurance commissioner race involves the tallest elected official on Earth.

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Washington state residents are voting on an effort to downsize a public long-term care insurance benefits program, Illinois residents are voting on a fertility treatment benefits mandate bill, and five states are voting on state insurance commissioners or other top insurance regulators.

In most states, early-voting and mail-in voting periods are already under way, and results of any close races may not be available for weeks.

But in-person voting on the ballot measures and candidates now under consideration will come to a close Tuesday.

Here’s a look at some of the election items that could affect benefits buyers, benefits product providers, and benefits brokers and consultants.

Ballot Measures

Washington state Initiative Measure 2124

This measure would make participation in the WA Cares Fund, a program that’s using a mandatory 0.58% payroll tax to create a public long-term care insurance program that can pay up to $36,000 in LTC benefits per covered worker, voluntary.

Supporters contend that the payroll tax is unpopular, the benefit promised is too small and the solvency of the program is uncertain.

Critics say the opt-out measure would destabilize the LTC insurance program and keep people from getting important benefits.

A recent poll commissioned by the KING 5 television station, the Seattle Times and the University of Washington Center for an Informed Public found that 49% of likely voters opposed the measure, 28% supported it and 23% were undecided.

Illinois Assisted Reproductive Health Referendum Act of Public Act 103-586

This measure is an advisory question with no direct impact on state laws.

It asks voters the following question: “Should all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization, be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits, without limitation on the number of treatments?”

Top Insurance Regulators

Federal law puts states in charge of regulation of the business of insurance.

Governors in many states appoint the insurance commissioners, insurance directors or other top insurance regulators, but some states elect the top insurance officials.

One of those regulators is appearing on his state’s general election ballot unopposed: North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread.

Godfread, a Republican who was first elected to his post in 2016 and re-elected in November 2020, is also the president-elect at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and on track to become the NAIC’s president in 2025.

Godfread, who is 6 feet 10 inches tall, appears to be the tallest elected official in the world, according to Guinness World Records.

Here’s a look at the four contested insurance commissioner races:

Delaware

Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance

Troy Downing, the Republican incumbent, is running for a seat in the U.S. House.

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner

Washington State Insurance Commissioner

Mike Kreidler, a Democrat and the state’s longtime insurance commissioner, is retiring.

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