Vicki Schmidt

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Vicki Schmidt
26th Kansas Insurance Commissioner
Assumed office
January 14, 2019
GovernorLaura Kelly
Preceded byKen Selzer
Member of the Kansas Senate
from the 20th district
In office
January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byBill Bunten
Succeeded byEric Rucker
Personal details
Born
Vicki Ensz

(1955-09-15) September 15, 1955 (age 68)
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMichael
Children2
EducationUniversity of Kansas (BS)
Websitewww.VickiSchmidt.org

Vicki Schmidt (born September 15, 1955) is an American politician who is currently the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. She was a Republican member of the Kansas Senate, representing the 20th district, from 2005 to 2019. She also served as the Senate Assistant Majority Leader from 2009 to 2012, and from 2017 to 2019.[1] She was elected Kansas Insurance Commissioner in 2018, and reelected in 2022.

Early life[edit]

Schmidt attended Wichita South High School in Wichita, Kansas where she met her future husband. After high school, she attended the University of Kansas and graduated from the school's pharmacy program.[2]

Kansas Senate[edit]

In the Kansas Senate, Schmidt served as chairwoman of the Public Health and Welfare Committee, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations, and the State Employee Pay Plan Oversight Committee. She also served as a member of the Health Care Stabilization Fund Oversight Committee, and the education, financial institutions and insurance, transportation committees.[3]

Kansas Insurance Department[edit]

Schmidt was elected Kansas Insurance Commissioner in 2018, and reelected in 2022.

In October 2023, Schmidt announced a reduction of producer licensing fees for 2024. It is estimated that these reductions will be reduced by a total of $1.2 million.[4][5]

The department has staff who regularly assists Kansans answer insurance-related questions and resolve insurance issues. This includes assisting individuals with previously denied claims. During 2023, the department assisted with recovering $16 million for Kansas policyholders with disputes with their insurance companies. 2023 marks the largest single-year recovery in the history of the department. Since the beginning of Schmidt's tenure as commissioner in 2019, the department has recovered $35 million in total.[6][7]

Personal life[edit]

In May 2023, Schmidt was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram. She underwent surgery and radiation treatments, and became cancer free in September. Following her battle with cancer, Schmidt continuously encouraged other women in Kansas to undergo routine mammogram screenings.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "KanFocus -- Error". www.kanfocus.com.
  2. ^ "2022 General Election Bios" (PDF). KansasChamber.org.
  3. ^ "Profile from the Kansas Legislature".
  4. ^ Jones, Shayndel. "Kansas Insurance Commissioner reduces producer licensing fees by $1.2 million". Channel 13 News. Channel 13 News. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Kansas Producer License Fees to be Reduced by $1.2 Million in 2024". Insurance Journal. Wells Media Group, Inc. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  6. ^ Motter, Sara. "$16 million recovered for insurance policy holders in Kansas after 2023 disputes". 13 WIBW. WIBW-TV. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  7. ^ Brunner, Melissa. "KS Insurance Commissioner reminds people of consumer resources available". 13 WIBW. WIBW-TV. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  8. ^ Brunner, Melissa. ""It's humbling:" KS Insurance Commissioner discusses breast cancer journey". 13 WIBW News. WIBW-TV. Retrieved 19 October 2023.

External links[edit]

Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Kansas Insurance Commissioner
2018, 2022 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Insurance Commissioner of Kansas
2019–present 		Incumbent
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