A True Story of David and Goliath

In North Carolina, legislators and the Governor recently signed a bill into law mandating insurance companies to pay for medically-needed formula.

It all stemmed from a family who fought for years to have its insurance company cover the cost of Neocate, which is an amino acid-based formula.  They needed it because their thrid son has soy and milk allergies as well as severe refulx.  Because the formula is amino acid-based the little boy's stomach can digest it without burning his little esophagus.  And, his parents can be assured that he's getting the nutrients he needs.  But Necoate costs $139 for a case of four cans.  And that only lasts three days.  Their older son needed it too.  It was either that or a feeding tube. 

But their insurer saw things a little differently.  It considered Neocate a nutritional need and not a medical need.  Suffice to say, it didn't cover the costs.  You get where I'm going.

The family fought and fought, arguing before a board of medical professionals at their insurance company at the time.  And they wrote letter after letter to the Governor at the time, trying to get a bill passed.  Their efforts failed.  After all, why would a legislative body put one family's need (and in reality it obviously isn't just one family's fight) above the needs of powerful insurance companies with high paid lobbyists.  I know, you're as shocked as I am.

Now a new Governor has signed a law that requires insurance companies to cover the costs of amino acid-based formulas. 

What's appaling is that it took a law to make it happen.  And, it's up to individual states to pass their own laws.  So who knows how many families are helpless and penniless.

In 2007 insurance companies reaped a whopping $65 billion in profits.  Yes, you read that right.  I'll spell it out for you again: sixty-five billion bucks!  

At what point does profit become so all-consuming that babies are put a risk and families in peril of losing everything they have?  It's absolutely outrageous.   This is a story of David and Goliath.  Thankfully, David won this one but how many others are out there?

I believe it's time to take action.  Nothing will change without pressure from real people.  Check out our poll below and voice your opinion.