Steven's Request For Better Insurance Coverage
For Amputees - December 17, 2001As you know, I was in a car accident while driving to work the morning of June 25, 2001. Due to the severity of my injuries, both of my legs were amputated above the knee.

Since my release from the hospital last month, I have been preparing for the next stage of my rehabilitation, which involves being fitted for and using prosthetic legs. Early in this process, I was concerned to learn that our company’s insurance policy covers a total of $10,000 per year for prosthetic limbs.

I suspect that our insurance policy may have been written with an assumption that a policyholder’s need for prosthetics would involve only one limb. Certainly the experience of losing both legs above the knee is highly unusual. In addition, the coverage of $10,000 per year for even one artificial limb appears outdated. After two visits to Maine Artificial Limb & Orthotics in Portland, I have learned that the costs for this year alone will be $15,000. Yet this will only provide me with sockets, which are the components that fit directly over the remaining portion of my legs; and “stubbies,” which are the short legs used in the initial stages of relearning balance and walking motion. The cost of my prosthetics next year are estimated at a minimum of $30,000. Each kneecap will cost about $5,000, each foot will be about $3000.

I do not know what the costs beyond next year will be. It is clear, however, that I will not be able to incur such out of pocket expenses at this time or in the future. I am asking that Pratt & Whitney’s Human Resources representatives, along with representatives of Cigna and our corporate office, reexamine the substance of this health policy and find ways to address the needs associated with bilateral above-knee amputations.

The need for prosthetics is not cosmetic. Not only are limbs necessary to reestablishing physical independence, they are critical to the improvement of my physical health. Since I have full sensation to the lower portion of my body, I am suffering significant pain from the pressure caused by sitting for hours at a time. This pressure also compromises the health of surrounding skin and muscle. Relearning to stand and walk will not only relieve pain and improve the health of surrounding tissue, however; it will also increase my aerobic conditioning and allow my body to reestablish normal cardiovascular circulation.

I am 38 years old and have worked for 18 years at Pratt & Whitney. I am very pleased to be returning to work today, even if it is only on a part-time basis. My plan is to return as soon as possible to full-time work, and eventually, after contributing many more productive years, to retire with this company. In order to reestablish and maintain my normal levels of productivity, however, I will need your help.

Thank you for giving your full attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Steven P. Loignon