Kansas Insurance Department Seeking to Increase Insurer Fees

The Kansas Insurance Department says it needs to raise fees on insurance companies because its long-term cash flow is uncertain.

The department says its regulatory fund is depleted because legislators and Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration has repeatedly used the money for other purposes.

Zachary Anshutz, assistant commissioner of insurance, says the regulatory fund is likely to be down to $200,000 in December, if revenues don’t improve.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the fund once had $24 million. But the state diverted $15 million in June and another $5 million in July. Another $5 million is scheduled to be diverted in July, and Brownback has proposed diverting $3 million more in March 2015.

Brownback’s spokeswoman, Sara Belfry, said the insurance department has enough cash flow to complete its work.