The New York State Insurance Department announced it has recovered $13.6 million from insurance companies over consumer complaints filed between April 1 and June 30.

Regulators say the money recovered for the first half of the year now totals $22 million.

Gov. David A. Paterson said given the current economic downturn and its impact on state residents, “we will continue to work to make sure New Yorkers get full value for their insurance dollars.”

“Insurance is a promise to protect us at our most vulnerable, and New Yorkers can rely on us to protect them if insurance companies do not keep their promises,” the governor said in a statement.

Kermitt J. Brooks

Acting Insurance Superintendent Kermitt J. Brooks said his department shares the commitment of the governor’s office and will work to continue to ensure that residents “are treated fairly.”

“In these difficult times, every New Yorker should know they have some place to turn for insurance help,” Brooks said.

Among the cases highlighted in the latest round of recoveries by the New York State Insurance Department was a man denied long-term disability benefits due to chronic fatigue syndrome. After contacting the insurance department, an independent medical exam was conducted supporting his claim and a check for more than $75,000 was issued to the policyholder.

In another case, a hospitalized consumer who changed coverage from one insurer to another was refused by both companies for payment of her medical stay. The hospital placed a judgment against the patient for the charged and after the department intervened, the patient’s first carrier paid more than $96,000.

In addition to the recovery funds, the insurance department said during the first six months of 2009, it successfully worked on behalf of 247 consumers to have their policies reinstated after cancellation.

The department said on an annual basis, it handles about 60,000 complaints and 200,000 calls to its hotline, investigation each complaint and working with the clients and insurers towards a resolution.