Health Insurance Claims

For 12-Year-Old Boy Without Arm, Insurance Has Run Out

Benjamin French was born with his right arm missing below the elbow. In his 12 years, he has been fitted with seven prostheses. His most recent replacement will cost nearly $30,000 and his doctor says he will soon grow out of it. But, according to his insurance company, the boy is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has already spent his lifetime maximum benefit.

Photos Courtesy French Family
healthcare
HELP US INVESTIGATE
Do you have concerns about how health insurance companies handle claims?

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund is tracking the way health insurance companies handle claims denials and other insurance data. Do you work for an insurance company? Do you have information on how claims decisions are made? We want to hear from you.

Join Our Team   Send A Tip

Latest Coverage | Health Insurance Claims

For 12-Year-Old Missing an Arm, Insurance Has Run Out

Benjamin French was born without his right arm. In his 12 years, he has had seven prostheses. His most recent replacement will cost nearly $30,000. But, according to his insurance company, the boy is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has already spent his lifetime maximum benefit.

Danielle Ivory16 November 2009

PHOTOS: Benjamin French and the $30,000 Arm

Benjamin French was born with his right arm missing below the elbow. In his 12 years, he has been fitted with seven prostheses. His most recent replacement will cost nearly $30,000 and his doctor says he will soon grow out of it. But, according to his insurance company, the boy is ineligible for further coverage of prosthetic devices because he has already spent his lifetime maximum benefit. Full Story »

 

Danielle Ivory6 November 2009

When Patients are Denied: The Battle Over Mental Health Benefits For Sexual Assault Victims

Stories of how victims of sexual assault can get tangled in the health insurance system have been one result of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund’s citizen journalism project. Patients and therapists wrote in with allegations that insurers are routinely denying long-term mental health care to women who have been sexually assaulted.

To watch a video about a rape victim’s efforts to obtain mental health services, click below.

Danielle Ivory21 October 2009

VIDEO: When Patients are Denied: The Battle Over Mental Health Benefits For Sexual Assault Victims

Some therapists and patients contend that insurance companies have been routinely denying coverage for sexual assault victims requesting long-term mental health services. Stories of how victims of sexual assault can get tangled in the health insurance system have been one result of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund's citizen journalism project, which is calling on readers to provide information and anecdotes about the inner workings of the insurance industry.
» Related Story: Rape Victim's Choice: Risk AIDS or Health Insurance?

Lagan Sebert21 October 2009

Rape Victim's Choice: Risk AIDS or Health Insurance?

A woman who was sexually assaulted took the anti-AIDS drugs her doctor prescribed as a precaution, only to learn that she had made herself virtually uninsurable. This is one of the stories emerging from the Investigative Fund's citizen journalism project on the health insurance industry.

Danielle Ivory21 October 2009

Health Insurance Denials Remain a Mystery

Are health insurance companies generally being fair and honest when they reject claims from policy holders? That would seem to be an important question in deciding how best to fix the U.S. health system, but it hasn’t been a focus of the health-care debate, possibly because the answer is not publicly available.

Danielle Ivory18 September 2009

About This Investigation
Health Insurance Claims

Are health insurance companies generally being fair and honest when they reject claims from policy holders? This question seems key to the current health care debate, but the answers aren't easily found.

Impact On This Topic

Updates and reactions to this investigation:

Follow Up: Michigan Insurance Plan Raises Prosthetics Coverage

Even better news today in the case of the 12-year-old Michigan boy who initially was denied insurance coverage for his new $30,000 prosthetic arm.

The Investigative Fund has been covering...

Danielle Ivory4 December 2009

In Reversal, Insurance Plan Will Cover Boy's Prosthetic Arm

A Michigan health insurer said it will make a one-time exception and cover a $30,000 prosthetic arm for a 12-year-old boy after his denied claim became a national story cited during the Senate health care debate.

Danielle Ivory2 December 2009

Follow Up: A Story Inspired by Citizen Journalists Lands in Senate Health Care Debate

Last week, Investigative Fund reporter Danielle Ivory brought you the story of 12-year-old Benjamin French and his family’s inability to pay for his $30,000...

Amanda Zamora23 November 2009

Key Links On This Topic