Enraging response insurance company gave girl born without left arm

Enraging response insurance company gave girl born without left arm
Source: Daily Mail Online

The family of a nine-year-old girl who was born without her left arm has been told a new prosthetic is 'not medically necessary' by their insurance company.

Remi Bateman, from Utah, has lived her whole life with the use of just one arm 'due to an amniotic band in the womb' caused her to lose the limb at birth, according to her mother Jami Batemen.

The school girl has always relied on prosthetics, but after recently outgrowing them, her family set their sights on upgrading her to a robotic arm.

They traveled to Colorado where Remi got to test out the Hero Arm, quickly feeling a sense of joy because of how functional it made her.

But her happiness was torn away when Select Health sent a denial letter to her mother, stating the new prosthetic is 'not medically necessary.'

Jami immediately appealed the company's decision as she was left confused why they refused to cover the costs.

'They've approved three prosthetics before in her lifetime, so I can't figure out why they refuse to deny this one,' Jami told KUTV.

Despite sending an appeal letter back to Select Health, Jami said she yet again received a letter denying coverage for Remi's new arm, which costs $24,000 without insurance.

During their time in Colorado, Jami said her daughter was visibly thriving wearing the robotic arm.

'This is 100 percent needed,' her mother said, adding that they saw with their own eyes what their daughter is capable of with the advanced prosthetic.
'We have seen what she can do being over in Colorado for three days.
'She wore the prosthetic for a trial. She was able to do 110 percent times things she was able to do here at home,' Jami recalled.

Select Health sent a denial letter to her mother, stating the new prosthetic is 'not medically necessary' and that the insurance company would not cover it.

Select Health told KUTV that they could not comment on the claim, as the company cited privacy laws when asked why coverage was denied for Remi if doctor's believe it is 'medically necessary.'

Now the family is trying to figure out a way to pay for their daughter's new arm on their own, as Jami launched a GoFundMe page.

'Hello! This GoFundMe is for my 9-year-old daughter, Remi. She was born missing her left hand due to an amniotic band in the womb.,' Jami said.
'She recently has been asking for a robotic arm, saying it will help her feel more confident in her abilities day to day,' her mother wrote, adding that because of her disability Remi has 'unfortunately dealing with some bullying.'

Jami said that although the family is 'willing to pay if necessary' for Remi's Hero Arm, they hope their daughter's experience will 'raise awareness for others in similar situations.'

'We've seen what she can do with the prosthetic. It's life-changing, and she deserves the chance to use it,' she continued.

As of Friday morning, the donation page has raised more than $15,400 for Remi.

While her family tries to get the arm for their daughter, they have also continued to advocate for her.

'The family continues to press Select Health for a change, advocating for both their daughter and others who might face similar insurance challenges,' Jami said.