Kansas Insurance Commissioner

Last updated

Insurance Commissioner of
the State of Kansas
Seal of the Commissioner of Insurance of Kansas.png
2023 Commissioner Schmidt Portrait.jpg
Incumbent
Vicki Schmidt
since January 14, 2019
FormationMarch 1, 1871
Website insurance.kansas.gov

The Kansas Insurance Commissioner (KIC), in full the Kansas State Insurance Commissioner, has the primary responsibility to the people whose personal lives are protected by insurance in the state of Kansas. It is an elected position and is currently held by Republican Vicki Schmidt. [1]

Contents

Duties

The Kansas Insurance Department was established by the Kansas Legislature in 1871. It has four major regulatory functions:

  1. Regulate and Review Companies: Sixty-five companies are headquartered in Kansas, plus 1,592 other companies sell policies in Kansas. The Kansas Insurance Department, under the direction of the Commissioner, regulates and reviews these companies to make sure they are solvent and comply with insurance laws and regulations;
  2. Educate Consumers: To educate consumers about insurance, the Kansas Insurance Department publishes brochures and rate guides on every type of insurance coverage; provides speakers on numerous insurance topics; and prepares vital public service information to mass media
  3. Assist Consumers: The Kansas Insurance Department helps consumers when they have disputes with insurance companies. Such assistance has resulted in millions of dollars in refunds and claims payments for consumers; and
  4. License Agents; Approximately 22,000 resident agents and 68,000 nonresident agents are licensed in Kansas to sell insurance products. The Kansas Insurance Department also requires agents to meet ongoing continuing education requirements.

Office holders

The office was known as the Superintendent of Insurance until 1927, when the title changed to Commissioner of Insurance. Since the office's inception, it has primarily been held by the Republican Party, with only 3 office holders not being members of the Republican party. All but 14 years of the office's existence has been with a Republican.

Kansas State Superintendents of Insurance

NameTermParty
William C. Webb 1871–1873Republican
Edward Russell1873–1874
Harrison Clarkson1874–1875
Orrin T. Welch1875–1883
Richard B. Morris1883–1887Democratic
Daniel W. Wilder1887–1891Republican
W. H. McBride1891–1893
S. H. Snider1893–1895
George T. Anthony1895–1896
Alexander P. Riddle1896–1897
Webb McNall1897–1899Populist
Willard V. Church1899–1903Republican
Charles H. Luling1903–1907
Charles W. Barnes1907–1911
Isaac S. Lewis1911–1915
Carey J. Wilson1915–1919
Frank L. Travis1919–1923
William R. Baker1923–1927

Kansas State Commissioners of Insurance

NameTermParty
William R. Baker1927–1929Republican
Charles F. Hobbs1929–1947
Frank Sullivan1947–1971
Fletcher Bell 1971–1991
Ronald L. Todd1991–1995
Kathleen Sebelius 1995–2003Democratic
Sandy Praeger 2003–2015Republican
Ken Selzer 2015–2019
Vicki Schmidt 2019–present

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Sherman. "Vicki Schmidt wins insurance post as GOP sweeps statewide agency races". The Topeka Capital. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
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