Idaho Department of Insurance seeks staff increases, warns of wildfire insurance stress; PBM enforcement ongoing

The Idaho Department of Insurance presented its 2026 budget requests to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 21, proposing a staff actuary, a regulatory compliance specialist, compensation increases for the state fire marshal staff, and one‑time capital outlay for replacement equipment and vehicles.

Director Dean Cameron said the agency is collecting data under last year’s PBM (pharmacy benefit manager) reform and has received numerous complaints; the department added one staff member to handle PBM work but said the workload is substantial. "She's receiving numerous complaints. I can't tell you the exact number right now," Cameron said, adding the department is still collecting required data submissions from PBMs and will provide a fuller report as it assembles the information.

Why it matters: the department oversees insurance company solvency, premium filings and consumer complaints. Cameron warned that nationwide wildfire claims, inflation and tightening reinsurance markets have tightened property insurance availability and driven some carriers to restrict or withdraw coverage in parts of Idaho. He…