Utah parents battle insurance over Spina Bifida surgery
LEHI, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A Utah family is fighting their insurance company to give their little girl a chance to beat a debilitating disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,500 newborns are affected by Spina Bifida each year. In the past, the spine could only be surgically closed after birth, but that surgery didn't restore normal function. Now, thanks to advances in medicine, a new intrauterine surgery for Spina Bifida can be performed, helping a child's chances of having less physical issues associated with the disease.
The Killpacks, a local couple, is about to have a baby with the disease, and they want desperately to have the procedure done, but there's red tape in their way. The family's insurance company, Educators Mutual, is refusing to pay for the surgery.
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Utah-parents-battle-insurance-over-Spina-Bifida/DAOusr3WRUuraDIEzk2Aiw.cspx
update:
Utah parents flooded with support after battle over Spina Bifida surgery
LEHI, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Utahns are rallying around a family fighting their insurance company to give their unborn baby a chance to beat Spina Bifida.
Millie and Matt Killpack are six months pregnant. They traveled to Houston for a surgery that would have closed the baby's spine through an intrauterine procedure. The surgery would help their baby girl have less physical issues associated with the disease. While they were in Houston, their medical insurance company, Educators Mutual (EMI) refused to pay for the surgery.
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Utah-parents-flooded-with-support-after-battle/4YdBpooRr0iff2wNhukSqA.cspx