Amputees Face Tens Of Thousands In Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Replacement Limbs

Amputees across the U.S. are facing increasing costs for prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation services due to insurance coverage limits, according to The Associated Press, and little help is on the horizon from the Affordable Care Act.

Heather Abbott, who lost a foot due to injuries sustained in the Boston Marathon bombing, told the AP that she was fortunate: “[My insurance company] told me most of the costs are covered for one limb, but they’re considered on a case-by-case basis,” she said. Several charities are pitching in to help with some of the victims’ other expenses, but they cannot cover everything — and that’s just for a small set of amputees compared to the national picture.

The Amputee Coalition says that financial barriers to prosthetic limbs are a number one concern among its members, who face paying $5,000-$10,000 or more for limbs in the wake of an injury or disease. Some limbs can cost up to $50,000, and the added costs of rehab are often too much to bear.

One of the primary stumbling blocks for many amputees are their private health insurance policies, many of which provide no more than $5,000 in annual coverage for medical hardware like prosthetic limbs. Meanwhile, many amputees can expect medical bills that grow up to $450,000, the director of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) told Reuters.

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/23/amputees-face-tens-of-thousands-in-out-of-pocket-costs-for-replacement-limbs/