Insurance Commissioner of
the State of Kansas
Incumbent
Vicki Schmidt
since January 14, 2019
FormationMarch 1, 1871
Websiteinsurance.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]

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 1871–1873 Republican
Edward Russell 1873–1874
Harrison Clarkson 1874–1875
Orrin T. Welch 1875–1883
Richard B. Morris 1883–1887 Democratic
Daniel W. Wilder 1887–1891 Republican
W. H. McBride 1891–1893
S. H. Snider 1893–1895
George T. Anthony 1895–1896
Alexander P. Riddle 1896–1897
Webb McNall 1897–1899 Populist
Willard V. Church 1899–1903 Republican
Charles H. Luling 1903–1907
Charles W. Barnes 1907–1911
Isaac S. Lewis 1911–1915
Carey J. Wilson 1915–1919
Frank L. Travis 1919–1923
William R. Baker 1923–1927

Kansas State Commissioners of Insurance

NameTermParty
William R. Baker 1927–1929 Republican
Charles F. Hobbs 1929–1947
Frank Sullivan 1947–1971
Fletcher Bell 1971–1991
Ronald L. Todd 1991–1995
Kathleen Sebelius 1995–2003 Democratic
Sandy Praeger 2003–2015 Republican
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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