EXECUTIVE BRANCH: COMMERCE


OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE


  The Bureau of Financial Examinations is responsible for financial solvency
surveillance of all
insurers licensed to transact business in Wisconsin. It conducts field audits
of domestic insurer
operations, monitors the activities of nondomestic insurers, administers
insurer rehabilitations
and liquidations, audits and collects insurer taxes and fees, and collects
and administers the fire
department dues program.
  The Division of Administrative Services and Policy Analysis is responsible
for the segregated
funds, the Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan, and general administrative
functions.
It includes the Office of Policy Analysis.
  There are 3 segregated funds administered by the agency. The Local Government
Property
Insurance Fund provides insurance protection on properties of local government
units on an
optional basis. The State Life Insurance Fund offers low-cost life insurance
protection to Wis-
consin residents in amounts not exceeding $10,000 per person. The Patients
Compensation
Fund pays that portion of medical malpractice claims against qualified health
care providers in
excess of certain statutory limits or the maximum insured liability limit.
It also provides mal-
practice occurrence coverage for health care providers.
  The Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan provides health insurance
to persons who
qualify as a result of reduction or cancellation of coverage or substantial
increases in premiums
and not able to find adequate coverage in the private sector.
  General administrative functions include: administration of the insurance
intermediaries test-
ing and licensing program; centralized word and data processing; and budget,
personnel, and
clerical support services.
  The Office of Policy Analysis researches insurance issues and conducts
the public information
program of the agency.
  A board of governors supervises health care liability plans for health
care coverage for licensed
physicians, nurse anesthetists, and hospitals in this state. It also manages
the patients compensa-
tion fund. Another board of governors supervises the Health Insurance Risk
Sharing Plan.
  Interagency Relationships: The Local Government Property Insurance Fund
(formerly the
State Property Insurance Fund) insures the property of local government units
that elect to
insure with the fund. The Patients Compensation Fund coordinates activities
with the Depart-
ment of Regulation and Licensing, which licenses physicians and nurses. The
administration of
the fire department dues program involves coordination with the Department
of Industry, Labor
and Human Relations and the Department of Revenue. Legal liaison and assistance
is provided
to the agency by the Department of Justice. The commissioner participates
in or is represented
on the Group Insurance Board, Wisconsin Retirement Board, Employe Trust Funds
Board,
Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems, Retirement Research Committee,
Wisconsin
Insurance Security Fund Board, and Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan.


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