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Activists rally at Capitol against no-fault auto insurance law

September 25, 2019
<p>Protesters rally against the new no-fault auto insurance law on Sept. 25 at Michigan&#x27;s State Capitol. </p>

Protesters rally against the new no-fault auto insurance law on Sept. 25 at Michigan's State Capitol.

Photo by Wells Foster | The State News

Hundreds of blue T-shirt clad protesters gathered on the steps of the Michigan Capitol today to protest Michigan's no-fault auto insurance law passed in May 2019.

Public Act 21 aimed to reform Michigan's auto insurance system. Critics of the law say it leaves accident victims without access to health care through their insurance and shifts the cost from auto insurers to Medicaid without lowering auto insurance premiums.

The rally began at 9 a.m. at the Lansing Center, where activists gathered and prepared for the march. Protesters then marched on the Capitol at 11 a.m.

Opponents of the law rallied around the hashtag "#FixTheFix" and the slogan "Fix the Broken Promise."

"It promised us lower insurance prices, but it's actually fooling the people," protest volunteer Melinda Cook said.

Protesters and lawmakers opposing the bill also criticized the late-night passage of the law.

"I think they faced pressure from their constituents to find a quick fix to lower auto insurance rates. As we know, Michigan has the highest rates in the country, but we also promise the most comprehensive care to individuals injured in auto accidents in the country," activist and volunteer Maddisen Cardwell said.

State Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) spoke to protesters at the state capitol, calling for an insurance commissioner to oversee the auto insurance industry in Michigan.

"We need an insurance commissioner to root out fraud and bad actors in the insurance industry. A commissioner accountable to you and not politicians. Michigan doesn't have that position. I'm working on legislation to create one," he said.

The rally was organized by and featured groups representing doctors and health care providers in Michigan, as well as no-fault auto insurance protection groups. Michigan Brain Injury Providers Council, Concerned Association of Patients and Providers, the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault and the Brain Injury Association of Michigan were present at the rally.

"When we say 'fix the fix,' we need them to go back and look at what they voted on in the middle of the night and correct that," Cook said.

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