Prosthetic care won't break system

By Tami Stanley
Published: Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 12:15 a.m. MST
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Without legislation to ensure coverage, many people living with the loss or absence of a limb are facing discouraging obstacles when trying to obtain prosthetic care. Insurance companies are cutting or even eliminating coverage for prostheses. The Amputee Coalition of America is working to introduce federal legislation to address this issue. The bill would put the insurance coverage for prosthetic care on par with other basic, medical services.

Obviously, the biggest concern anybody has about passing a new mandate is cost. People fear that big jumps in the cost of insurance will reduce access to health care. None of us want to see health insurance costs pushed beyond the reach of the average consumer. Policy reports have been done in Massachusetts, California, Colorado, New Jersey and Virginia. They have found that providing prosthetics is low cost to individual consumers. Furthermore, it also saves money in the public and private sector.

A Department of Health Care Policy & Financing report found that the maximum increase in premiums for prosthetic provision would be about 12 cents per month. That is less than $1.50 per year. That is not going to push anyone off the insurance rolls or put anyone out of business. It will, however, get people the care they need to get back to work and live independent, productive lives.

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Prosthetic parity legislation is supported by doctors, patients, prosthetists and a diverse range of organizations. In fact legislation is being considered at both the state and federal level. I am writing to urge Sen. Orrin Hatch and the rest of the Utah congressional delegation to support this important legislation.

Tami Stanley, a below-the-knee amputee, is a homemaker living in Orem.

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