Young amputee helping health insurance bill gain momentum

by Nora Gathings (hsgathings@wsbt.com)

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Young amputee helping health insurance bill gain momentum

By WSBT News1

MISHAWAKA — Evan Light hasn't mastered reading, but this young amputee from Mishawaka got a day off from school to testify before the Indiana Senate. Light and his father spoke in favor of a bill that would provide more insurance coverage for prosthetics.

Senate Bill 269 would require insurance companies to increase their coverage to $10,000 a year. It's similar to coverage already provided to amputees covered by Medicare.

The Lights say prosthetics and other necessary parts cost up to $25,000 a year, and the costs are increasing. They say the bill can help them and other families stay out of debt and prevent more serious and costly health problems.

Evan's the master of football trivia -- especially about his favorite team, Lousiana State University. It's information that could help him in his future career as a LSU quarterback.

The aspiring football player runs, kicks, and throws like the other kids. But his parents sometimes get unusual phone calls.

"It is usually something that would case panic in parents. When you get a call saying you need to come to the school because Evan’s foot broke off," said Randy Light, Evan's father.

Evan's legs were amputated in a car accident when he was eight months old and he has gone through four pairs of prosthetics.

"Your legs are almost as much as a car," said Light to his son.

"Just for a leg?" asked Evan.

"It is very restrictive in terms of our own finances. These prosthetics are over $21,000, and the insurance company limits the coverage to $4,000," said Light.

And the protective liners are another $5,000 a year.

"We owe a great deal on what he has now," said Light. "And likely before these ones are paid off, he’ll need another one, another pair."

Light thinks Evan will need seven or eight more pairs before he's old enough to play football for LSU.

That's why the Senate bill would help. Insurance companies would have to provide $10,000 for prosthetics a year. And a proposed amendment would adjust that amount to make up for inflation.

"It is a difference of cost of $16,000 to $17,000. Who couldn’t use that?" said Light.

Because going without prosthetics isn't an option for the Lights.

"If he was wheelchair bound, he would not be as active as he is, so things like obesity and diabetes could ultimately be the result of his inactivity," he said.

Light says insurance would cover diabetes or obesity related costs. But says it would end up costing insurance companies more in the long-run.

Tuesday, Apr 15 at 7:13 PM Dennis Johnson wrote ...

Our government is not going to do anything until we demand these things at voting time. Join the ACA and check to see what your state is doing for prosthetic parity. Last year N.C. passed a mental health parity bill after we tried since 1992. You know our Congress members have unlimited prosthetic coverage!!! I actually do not know it for a fact but they do have the best insurance in the US and we, the taxpayers, foot the bill. I am a 64 yr old male aka.

Friday, Jan 18 at 8:51 PM jim wrote ...

this is one of those topics that I think, there should be a government backed program, that would supply the money to those who need prosthetics, without having to deal with insurance companies, I think a program for american amputees would be a drop in the bucket compared to the money thrown away overseas

Friday, Jan 18 at 11:39 AM Rhonda wrote ...

Wow! Passing this bill would be amazing! As a 34 yr old who has been an active amputee for 20 yrs, I know first hand how expensive prosthetics cost. I was fortunate to have been treated by Shriner's Hospital in Chicago from age 14 to 21, which covered all my costs (God Bless them!) But as a young adult, it was very difficult to afford a new leg or to even have maintainance done. I'm not considered handicapped b/c I have only lost one limb, but if I can't afford it, handicapped is how I feel!

Thursday, Jan 17 at 11:18 PM Insurance stinks wrote ...

Why is it that an insurance company will pay for you to get cancer, diabetes and treatment for being obese, but they will not pay for the preventative care for it? It seems like it would be much cheaper to pay for yearly checkups, prostetics, shots, etc. than it would be to pay for the chemo, diabetic treatment, heart surgery, etc. No wonder this world is so messed up. We have to have the problem before they'll pay for it. How sad.

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