At The Core | Spotlight on Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt

“At the Core with Danielle J. Martin” features leaders across Kansas and is dedicated to showcasing the stories and voices of local leaders who have substantially impacted their communities and industries.’

ABOUT VICKI SCHMIDT

Vicki Schmidt was elected Kansas insurance commissioner in 2018 and reelected in 2022. She is the first pharmacist to serve as commissioner and is one of only two pharmacists in America to hold a statewide office.

Vicki graduated from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy and has worked for more than 40 years as a local pharmacist. Her professional experience drew her to run for the Kansas Senate, where she served for 14 years. She chaired the Public Health and Welfare Committee for six years and served as a member on the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee for 12 years.As commissioner, she has returned more than $35 million to Kansans policyholders. Her efforts to overhaul department operations have reduced the cost of doing business in Kansas, saving the insurance and securities industries more than $50 million. She currently represents Kansas at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, where she serves as vice chair for the Midwest Zone.

Vicki and her high school sweetheart, Dr. Michael Schmidt, have been married for 50 years. The have two sons and are proud grandparents of four.

Martin: Tell us about one of your favorite childhood memories.

Schmidt: I started dating my husband when I was 15 years old. When I was in fifth grade, I rode my bicycle through his baseball game. My neighborhood was all boys except for my sister and me. We used to torment them and ride our bicycles through there.

We went to college together and I never dated anyone else. We got married when I was 18 and he was 19. Our 50th anniversary is coming up in just a few weeks. I’m fortunate we grew up together and have made a great life for ourselves.

Martin: Did you ever see yourself becoming the insurance commissioner of Kansas?

Schmidt: Never. This was a career change. I went to the University of Kansas and worked in the pharmacy world for many years. In the mid-1990s, Governor Graves appointed me to the Kansas Board of Pharmacy, which was a great opportunity.

At one point, I had to testify in support of a bill before the state legislature. When I was about halfway through speaking, I looked up and saw that two of the legislators had nodded off. I was so mad. I’d spent all this time preparing and this was really important to us. They couldn’t even stay awake to listen to what I had to say. I came home and told my husband what happened, and that it made me want to run for office someday.

Years later, when our youngest son was a senior in high school and about to leave for college, there was an opening in the state senate. I told my husband we’re about to become empty nesters and this is the time for me to do it. He said, “Well, I know a lot of empty nesters and they don’t lose their mind and run for public office.”

I went on to serve in the Kansas senate for 14 years and enjoyed my time there. When a seat opened for the Kansas Insurance Department, I took it. This has become more than a full-time job for me. I love it because I’m still helping people. I became a pharmacist and senator to help people. Being the insurance commissioner is just helping people on a larger scale.

Martin: How do you stay motivated and show up every day confidently?

Schmidt: “Confidently” may be the key word. I think running for public office is tough. You’re really putting yourself out there. A real eye-opener for me was when I was serving in the Kansas senate and I got a phone call from a gentleman who said he didn’t vote for me but needed my help. I told him, “You’re in luck, because I don’t represent just the people who voted for me. I represent the entire district. What can I do to help?”

His situation needed immediate action, and I was able to help. I’m very proud to say it had a good outcome for him and his family. By the time it was over, he’d asked if he could put up a yard sign for me. Things like that are what keep me going.

Martin: How do you face challenging scenarios?

Schmidt: It starts with communication. If we don’t have good communication, then we don’t have good conversations and get to know the issues. I’ve found that sometimes we’re talking about the same subject, but we’re not speaking the same language.

Martin: What are some pressing issues Kansans might be unaware of when it comes to insurance?

Schmidt: The number one thing I preach is to have active conversations with your insurance agent at least once a year. When the tornadoes hit in Westmoreland and Andover, we found there was a segment of the population who were underinsured. They might have replacement coverage, but they didn’t have it for the right amount. Make sure you know how much insurance coverage you have.

The other issue is affordability. I don’t set the rates, but I do approve the rates.

Martin: I want to talk a little more about you. You’re a breast cancer survivor.

Schmidt: That’s an interesting story. Apps like MyChart notify you before your doctor calls. When I found out I had cancer, it was the Friday before Memorial Day weekend at four o’clock in the afternoon. This was in 2023. I clicked on MyChart and saw that I had cancer. The world stopped. I’ll never forget how I could hardly breathe, but I did drive myself home. I sometimes wonder how, but I did, and I got back into that cocoon of somebody who loves me and is going to take care of me.

I had surgery and finished my radiation in September. I’m here to tell anyone who will listen: get your annual mammogram. Mine was a very small lesion and it was treated. Today, I’ve got a clean bill of health. I’m so thankful for the people who cared for me. I’m really thankful for my husband, who drove me to appointments and was my compliance officer. He wouldn’t let me do all the things I wanted to do when I wanted to do them.

Preventative medicine is better than having an emergency. Get your mammogram. I know they’re not the most pleasant thing to experience, but they can save your life. Pretty sure it saved mine.

Martin: When you were sharing your story, you made it sound like you can’t sit down

Schmidt: I can’t. I wish I could tell you that I like to knit or crochet or do something with my hands, although I do like to go for walks.

The day after my surgery, I told my husband, “Hey, I feel good. I’m going to get dressed and you’re going to drive me to work.” He looked at me and said, “Turn around and go back in the bedroom. This is the medication talking right now.”

He was right. Don’t ever tell him that, but he was right. I think he hid the power cord to my work laptop from me. It’s really hard for me to step away. I didn’t think the office could work without me, but that’s not true. I have a terrific team.

Martin: What’s been the powerhouse moment of your career?

Schmidt: When I was a senator, I was proud to sponsor legislation like the Clean Indoor Air Act. It’s so old now that people can’t remember when smoking was allowed in restaurants or grocery stores. That was a really big deal for Kansas to pass. We’ve provided autism coverage for children, and I also helped provide the seed money for the Kansas University Cancer Center while they were trying to get their NCI designation.

As commissioner, our team has cut fees by over $50 million for people doing business in the insurance and securities space. We recovered over $16 million last year in our consumer assistance division, and $36 million since I took office. That money went back into Kansas consumers’ pockets and changed health outcomes.

Sometimes you don’t see the results of your work until several years later. You just have to keep doing good work and things that will make a difference to somebody.

Martin: Do you feel like you still have more to do?

Schmidt: Oh, I think everybody has more. I like what Erma Bombeck said: “When I die, I’m going to skid into the grave as long as I’m healthy and able to do things.” There’s so much to do and we should all be concerned about our community. I really forward to continuing whatever that looks like for me in the future.

Martin: What’s your superpower?

Schmidt: Asking questions. Sometimes it leads to more questions, but it also leads to conversations. When I was in pharmacy school, I remember hearing about patients coming in for their medication and being grumpy, and how you don’t know what’s happened to them. They may have had a bad diagnosis, or not heard from their kids in a while, or had a fight with a loved one. You never know what’s going on.

What I found was that just by asking a simple question like “How’s your day going?” you could find out all kinds of things and even help people. That’s what got me to start asking questions. Being inquisitive is important. For me, it’s how I learn.

Martin: What advice would you give to young women who want to be public servants?

Schmidt: I’d tell them that running for public office is really putting yourself out there. Historically, most women don’t run for office unless somebody asks them. I don’t know why we think we need to be asked, but apparently we do. Also, listen to the people around you. I think other people can see traits in you that you don’t see in yourself. When they tell you that you might have a knack for this or that, listen to them.

Martin: Vicki, thank you so much for your time. It’s been a pleasure.