Applause for Mike Kreidler

This is why we need government watchdogs and regulation:

Ever since the widely reported news of Farmers' refusal to cover health care costs for massive injuries Adams suffered after being crushed in a six-car pileup last March, a flood of outraged e-mails and phone calls has swamped officials and lawmakers -- from state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to executives at Farmers headquarters in Los Angeles.

"What was this if it wasn't an accident?" said the 60-year-old, who has already incurred about $500,000 in hospital bills, with more to come. "This is everybody's worst nightmare. You know you have insurance -- you've paid for it -- and you've got these massive injuries. Then to be told, 'No, you don't have coverage,' it was like someone punched me in the stomach. It makes you physically ill."

[Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike] Kreidler seems to have had a similar reaction.

He characterized Farmers' denial as "an imaginative interpretation" of state insurance law and gave the company an ultimatum: Pay up by 5 p.m. on Thursday or face legal action.

Apparently, the pressure worked.

When corporate behemoths try to stick it to consumers, someone has to step in to fight for them. Good government exists in part to protect and defend its citizens.

In this case, state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler did exactly the right thing: he gave Farmers Insurance an ultimatum and told them to pay the claim - or be sued.

Neither Ethel nor her attorney contacted the Insurance Commissioner's office about their trouble with Farmers. But after hearing her story on the news, other people did:

Ethel Adams is amazed that Farmers Insurance has done an about face -- but even more amazed that the State Insurance Commissioner and people who heard her story stood up for her. We shared dozens of supportive e-mails with the insurance commissioner.

"What amazes me the most is people took time out from their day to make a phone call or do an e-mail," Adams said. "These are just everyday people like me and they took the time out to get behind me that really feels good."

[...]

Farmers' change of heart comes just one day after an ultimatum from Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler: "We're going to make sure Farmers understands they have a legal responsibility to pay this claim - they will pay this claim." That was just a few hours before Farmers' decision.

Kreidler was so incensed, he threatened to take legal action and pull Farmers' business license so they can never do business in Washington. That move would cut deep, as Farmers is second-largest insurance provider in Washington.

[...]

The Insurance Commissioner's Office wants you to know, if you any problems with your insurance, they want to hear from you.

Good government prevailed and forced Farmers' Insurance to do the right thing and pay Ethel Adams the coverage she deserves. Thanks to Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's office, Ethel will have a chance to get back on the road where she belongs.