Nationwide health insurance nudged into compliance with state regulations

Nationwide Life Insurance Co.,  of Columbus, Ohio filed health insurance rates and plans to sell to students at six Washington state universities and all state community colleges for the 2015-16 school year that did not comply with state requirements.

Rather than disapprove the plans and leave thousands of students without health insurance just before the start of the school year, the Washington State Insurance Commissioner agreed to temporarily approve the plans and refrain from issuing an enforcement action against the company.

Nationwide agreed to bring the plans in line with state insurance requirements by September 30 and refile them with the Insurance Commissioner, communicate to students that their plans are changing with agreed-upon language, adjust the rates appropriately, distribute updated policies to all students by October 30 and file its rates and forms properly for the following school year by January 1, 2016.