Kecia Milliner's life changed forever as she helplessly watched her 5-year-old daughter get hit and dragged by a speeding car in front of the family's Redford home. As the girl's external injuries slowly healed, her internal injuries only worsened. Dozens of doctors and specialists diagnosed Milliner's daughter with a traumatic brain injury.
At first, the Milliners' insurance company promised to honor the family's personal injury protection benefits and pay the medical bills. However, they soon betrayed that promise, forcing the Milliners to fall behind on their bills and ruin their credit in the fight to get their daughter the treatment she needs.
This story is far too common in Michigan – one of only four states that don't have laws to stop insurance companies from delaying or denying legitimate claims just to increase their profits. House Democrats took a stand against this deceitful practice known as "bad faith" or "wrongful denial." The lawmakers created a plan to penalize insurance companies that turn their backs on consumers while holding CEOs accountable for boosting profits at the expense of consumers.
The plan struck a nerve with insurance giants who retaliated against House Democrats by launching radio ads and robocalls attacking bill sponsors. The lawmakers were not intimidated, though, and in August the House passed the plan requiring insurance companies to keep their promises to victims and their families.
"No one should have their life destroyed because an insurance company will not do what it promised," said State
Representative Barb Byrum (Onondaga), Chair of the House Committee
on Insurance. "Insurance companies and CEOs should play by the same rules as everybody else, and no intimidation
campaign will get me to back down."
To see videos of wrongful denial victims and a whistleblower and sign a petition, click here.