North Dakota Insurance Department

Office address: 600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505  
Website: insurance.nd.gov 
Year established: 1889 
Employees: 37+ 
Key people: Jon Godfread (commissioner), John Arnold (deputy commissioner), Jacob Just (director), Doug Nelson (state fire marshal), Matt Fischer (chief examiner), Colton Storseth (chief actuary) 
Operating budget: $15 million (FY 2025) 

The North Dakota Insurance Department handles insurance and securities regulation to protect consumers and keep the market fair. Based in Bismarck, NDID manages licensing, fraud cases, and company financial reviews across the state. 

History of North Dakota Insurance Department 

The North Dakota Insurance Department was established in 1889, created by the state’s original constitution to oversee a growing insurance sector. Just one year later, regulatory duties were transferred from the territorial auditor to the newly formed Office of the Insurance Commissioner.  

The Insurance Commissioner also took on responsibility in 1913 for the new State Bonding Fund, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal was added under the same authority. Below is an overview of NDID's timeline: 

• 1915: hail insurance department moved under Insurance Commissioner 
• 1917: commissioner named ex officio secretary of State Board of Electricians 
• 1919: state fire and tornado fund created; joined State Auditing Board 
• 1937: commissioner designated ex officio State Fire Marshal 
• 1941: reappointed as secretary of renamed State Electrical Board 
• 1947: took over Unsatisfied Judgment Fund for uninsured motorists 
• 1963: investment rules set by State Investment Board 
• 1967: hail insurance repealed; fire marshal moved to Attorney General 
• 1993: gained oversight of boiler safety and Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Fund 
• 2010: focus expanded to Medicare Part D and competitiveness 
• 2011: recovered $5.6 million; $1.4 million tied to fraud 
• 2023: joined Interstate Insurance Compact as 47th state member 
• 2024: resolved 1,500+ complaints; recovered over $2 million 

Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread was also one of the new leaders of the NAIC 2025 by becoming the president of the national organization. This gives NDID a stronger voice in national insurance policy and deeper involvement in NAIC regulatory decisions. 

North Dakota Insurance Department mandate 

The department’s powers and responsibilities are governed by North Dakota Century Code Title 26.1. The North Dakota Insurance Department’s divisions and units are also listed below: 

1. Office of the Commissioner 
2. Actuarial Science Division 
3. Administrative Division 
4. Company Licensing and Examinations Division 
5. Fraud Investigation Division 
6. Legal Division 
7. Life and Health/Medicare Division 
8. Producer Licensing Division 
9. Property and Casualty Division 
10. Office of the State Fire Marshal 

These divisions are led by the Insurance Commissioner, which is a statewide elected official serving four-year terms. As of 2025, Jon Godfread holds this office, having been first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and 2024. 

Key responsibilities  

Below are the core responsibilities that the North Dakota Department of Insurance manages under state law and its regulatory role: 

• licensing professionals: approves agents, brokers, adjusters, and entities 
• monitoring insurers: reviews financial health and solvency of companies 
• regulating insurance products: checks policy forms and rate filings for compliance 
• investigating fraud: handles insurance fraud tips and criminal referrals 
• resolving complaints: helps consumers address coverage and claim issues 
• administering state funds: oversees Fire and Tornado Fund and Bonding Fund 
• supporting fire safety: coordinates code enforcement via State Fire Marshal 
• guiding Medicare users: offers SHIP help with plans and appeals 
• conducting examinations: audits insurance companies on-site when required 
• developing regulations: creates rules aligned with NAIC and state law 

The agency also manages specialty funds and directs the Invisible Reinsurance Pool, which backs the individual health market. Its work supports both consumer protection and insurer accountability without favoring one over the other. 

Recent initiatives and regulatory focus 

The NDID successfully challenged a rate hike in court. This prompted the judge to block the increase in March 2025. Its legal action stopped premium hikes and benefit cuts for 317 residents. The case upheld the department’s authority over out-of-state insurers. 

The North Dakota Insurance Department absorbed the Securities Department, which consolidates all regulatory authority under one agency. Ten full-time securities staff were transferred into the department’s structure. The merger allows unified fraud enforcement and streamlined oversight of financial services. 

Consumer protection and outreach 

The North Dakota Insurance Department gives residents clear tools and support to make smart choices. Here are some of the specific programs and services: 

• fraud reporting program: investigates tips and suspected fraud with legal follow-up 
• complaint resolution tool: lets consumers file insurance complaints online or by mail 
• company rating service: shows public scores for insurance companies and complaint histories 
• Medicare comparison guide: explains Medicare Advantage, Part D, and supplement plans 

The NDID also partners with volunteers and local offices to help older residents and caregivers statewide. These outreach efforts help protect money, coverage, and peace of mind for North Dakotans.