Several lawsuits have been filed against insurance companies recently for their failure to cover prosthetic limbs. The lawsuits claim that the insurance companies have wrongfully denied coverage for prosthetic limbs that are controlled by microprocessors. The insurance companies claim they aren’t medically necessary or are experimental.
There are roughly two million people living with limb loss in the U.S. About 185,000 amputations are performed in the U.S. each year. Those amputees need a prosthesis, which replaces the missing body part, such as the arm of leg. Technology improvements have allowed prosthesis manufacturers to use microprocessors to power artificial knees, feet, arms, wrists, fingers, and elbows. The alternative to microprocessor-controlled prostheses is body-powered prostheses, which can be more painful and cumbersome to use, and don’t allow users to take advantage of features offered by microprocessor-controlled prostheses.
According to the lawsuits, microprocessor-controlled arms have been in use since the 1980s and are very common today. However, many insurance companies balk at their costs, and have denied coverage to their customers.
If you have had your insurance claim for a microprocessor-controlled limb denied, you should speak with an attorney. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles Amputation Attorney at 310-385-0567. I can help. I’m currently working on several lawsuits against insurance companies for wrongfully denying coverage for prostheses. Call to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.