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Updated: 11:54 AM Oct 14, 2009
Baby too big for insurance coverage
Healthy Baby Can't Get Insured Imagine having a perfectly healthy two month old baby and having your insurance company tell you they won't cover him.
Posted: 7:00 PM Oct 8, 2009Reporter: Chiara Lotierzo Email Address: chiara.lotierzo@nbc11news.com |
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"30528053"
Posted by: Never watch NBC again
on Oct 13, 2009 at 04:31 PM
I don't thiink anyone can ever take KKCO seriously. You can't fault Bernie. He is a good father and did what he should. But, when he took this story to the news-manager they should have said "NO WAY". There are thousands of stories they could run about people that have been crushed by big corporations. They choose the one involving their employee. "30526783"
Posted by: Danielle
Location: Idaho
on Oct 13, 2009 at 03:56 PM
OBESE?!!!!! A FOUR month old?!! This is the most absurd, despicable thing I've ever heard of!! I can't believe an insurance company would deny an infant coverage. All of our 5 children were in the 80-90th percentile and they have completely slimmed down. Breast fed babies will take in as much as they need---there's no measuring the amount they take in (as opposed to formula). Plus, there really should be a seperate weight/length chart for breast fed babies----they just don't necessarily grow at the same rate as bottle fed babies do. What a sweet, adorable, healthy baby. SHAME on that insurance company! "30523718"
Posted by: Robert
Location: Virginia
on Oct 13, 2009 at 02:43 PM
It is sad that this child has been denied health care coverage. I bet if an illegal alien walked into a hospital for a scratch, they would provide them with the best of medical care. The sad part of this is that they probably will not have insurance, and then when they say they are an immigrant they will be released and no billing will inquire. What has this country turned into, and were looking at Goverment Run Health care, we cannot manage a child needing health care, how are we going to manage anything that will require thought? "30519301"
Posted by: Susan
Location: PA
on Oct 13, 2009 at 01:10 PM
My son was 8lbs, 7oz at birth and was breast fed. He was 20 lbs at 4 months and 30 lbs at a year. He was a big kid but never fat. He is now a very fit and athletic 6'3" 20 year old. I can't believe people are judging this family for shopping around for insurance. From what I read their insurance was rising a lot and perhaps they could not afford it. We are all so quick to judge. "30518948"
Posted by: Deanae
Location: Colorado
on Oct 13, 2009 at 01:02 PM
My three children were in the 99th percentile at birth, 9.5, 9.5 and 10.5 lbs. All were also in the 99th percintile for length. My son is now 6 ft 170 lbs. My two daughters are 5'5" size 2. Not what anybody would consider obese. The company did the right thing by reviewing this policy but how many other companies have such arbitrary policies? We need better health care now. "30516677"
Posted by: Glenn
Location: Gj
on Oct 13, 2009 at 12:15 PM
For an insurance company to remain viable, they MUST make a profit, so they can continue to provide the best medical care in the world. And if they okayed every tubby two-boots that walked through the door, then their profits dwindle, people will be out of jobs and my 401k suffers. Lange you let your baby get fat. it's not the insurance companys fault. either you play by the rules that you agreed to and put that kid on a diet, or you pay for treatment out of your own television liberal pocket. "30515718"
Posted by: Barbara
Location: Texas
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Let's not be so quick to dump on the insurance company. If you don't like its rules, vote with your feet and get some other care... let them go down the tubes in the good ol' American way. Please use your imaginations and picture what the GOVERNMENT would require for this healthy nursing baby. Put him on reduced calorie formula or the mom pays a fine? Limit breastfeeding an "overweight" healthy baby according to some government statistical table? Take the baby away through CPS if the parents don't comply? Please have the FORESIGHT to imagine your healthcare run like the IRS, Post office, or the DMV. Use your heads! "30511988"
Posted by: Lyn
Location: Grand Junction
on Oct 13, 2009 at 10:48 AM
First of all shame on you KKCO for not "screening" these comments. And shame on "Lisa - new york; 10/12/09 @ 12:59" Rocky Mtn made an honest mistake - they reviewed their policy and did the right thing by changing it. Do either of you really think by flooding Rocky Mtn with hatred emails this is going to change anything? KKCO should have stepped back and let another news agency handle this story, it seems because it is one of their own they have tunnel vision. What about the story of a company righting a wrong - it was a mistake (that was corrected) - get over it. Why make a big deal out of a mistake??? And why did the Lange family feel they need different insurance on their child? Rocky Mtn showed they are a unique company, that goes out of their way to help people, by reviewing their policy so fast and doing the right thing. Insurance companies do have to have guidelines - or none of us would be able to afford insurance. Think people - get both sides of the story!! "30506711"
Posted by: Es
Location: Denver, CO
on Oct 13, 2009 at 09:02 AM
Shame on this insurance company. My son was 10 lbs 11 ozs when he was born. He tipped the scales. Today he's 10 and 68 lbs (very thin) and he's always been perfectly healthy. "30503706"
Posted by: Wendy
Location: Georgia
on Oct 13, 2009 at 07:57 AM
All three of my sons were BIG babies. One of them weighed 22 pounds when he was 4 months old. At 12 months, he had only gained 2 more pounds. He is a very healthy grown man now who has never had any health problems. He is tall and not the least bit overweight. In fact, all three of my sons are tall and in great shape. Yes, they were all breastfed. "30502976"
Posted by: Laura
Location: MD
on Oct 13, 2009 at 07:42 AM
One of the most absurd stories ever. I hope the underwriter is ashamed by the national coverage. My quite healthy daughter was also "off the charts" (defined as greater than 95th percentile) for both height and weight. She's still tall, but at three is now at the 80th percentile for weight and most clothes are too big in the waist. There is no such thing as an obese baby before they can crawl and walk. Utter stupidity! However the previous poster is wrong, the %tiles are compared to other kids their age so 50% is the average of all children and is considered "normal" anything above or below is larger or smaller than average. BUT, those charts are not updated regularly and don't take in account height vs. weight (just one or the other). A baby in the 10th percentile for height and 90% for weight probably has a problem, but not if height/weight are consistent to each other. Still just boggled at stupidity! "30502726"
Posted by: Jane Lebak
Location: Massachusetts
on Oct 13, 2009 at 07:36 AM
How many of the insurance company's executives are obese, I wonder? Do they deny themselves coverage? "30493728"
Posted by: Alysia
Location: Apple Valley, CA
on Oct 12, 2009 at 10:39 PM
My children were this big, and not denied coverage. THis is SO WRONG! He will thin out! Mine did. A "number cut-off" is a bunch of malarky. You don't need a number cut off for a child! His parents are trying to be good parents and do well-baby visits. How is denying them coverage going to improve the health of their child? Shame on the insurance company! "30488142"
Posted by: Anonymous
on Oct 12, 2009 at 07:35 PM
To your insurance company...that is so lame! My now 21 year old was breastfed. At 6 months he weighed 21 lbs. 4 ounces. His growth in the following 6 months slowed greatly and at 1 year, he was 22 lbs. 8 ounces. Once he started walking he slimmed down and in 8th or 9th grade only weighed 88 lbs. Today he's between 6'2" and 6'3" weighing about 170. "30487918"
Posted by: Mary
Location: Iowa
on Oct 12, 2009 at 07:25 PM
You do not control eating habits in a baby, for goodness sakes. They either are breastfed, which you can not do too much of as a baby will eat and sleep when they want to, not when you want them too for the most part. If you are talking about forcing them too much formula, that might be a problem because there is NO decent nutrition in baby formula. There are over 65 major and trace minerals that we need to be healthy and baby formula has from 7 - 14 depending on which company you choose. And that, my friends, is governed by your healthcare system. Who's at fault here? Do you not realize the health industry is owned by the insurance companies which are owned by the pharmaceutical companies? And big pharma owns the FDA and FTC. Do you get the picture yet? We are not getting all the information we need to make informed choices. Quit blaming the parents. My 4 children too were over 'off the charts' and all are normal college students now AND raised by a single mother - God forbid! "30487857"
Posted by: Kate
Location: CT
on Oct 12, 2009 at 07:23 PM
No one has mentioned that... 99% is not fat. It is 99% of normal. The range for "normal" based on the growth charts is 1-100%. Insurance "standards" like this are MADE UP. "30486537"
Posted by: hsh
Location: washington, dc
on Oct 12, 2009 at 06:35 PM
why would anyone switch their plan that the child was already covered under until they new for certain they had the identical coverage, to save a few dollars now they have nothing for this child. The out of pocket cost will be more per checkup than the extra cost, I would have waited at least a year for the babies first series of checkups and immunization before risking turned down by another insurer even if it a bogos claim, why take that chance. Anyone shopping for insurance has to make sure they have the exact coverage with no exception otherwise don't change. We kept all four of our kids on the same plan throught their births prenatal and post. Didn't want to risk their doctor not being on some other plan and having to change doctors. Hase anyone addressed why the medical industry has to charge so much also. they know they get a fat check from the insurer no matter what they don't care if you or I pay our percentage, why can't the actual treatment cost go down as well. "30486508"
Posted by: Granny
Location: Watertown, TN
on Oct 12, 2009 at 06:34 PM
My son weighed 10 lbs. when he was born. Due to allergies he had to be put on a soy-based formula and he weighed what this baby weighs at 2 mos. But by the time he was 18 mos. old, he had become a very active, very healthy, very slim toddler. My grandson,who was breastfed, weighed 20 lbs. when he was 3 mos. old and he too slimmed down once he became more active as a toddler. Both of these boys wore 'slim' sized pants when they were little boys. This news story is so absurd that I find it hard to believe. Could it be a ploy to show us all how much we all need ObamaCare? Something doesn't ring true here. "30485438"
Posted by: Latigo
Location: cincinnati OH
on Oct 12, 2009 at 05:58 PM
I can't stand this stupidity!! My daughter, now 36, was a similar size baby - born at 8 lb 7 oz at 22 inches long and born 2 weeks early. She was probably the same size at 4 months. She was rarely ever ill growing up. She is a big-boned person like her great grandmother and today has low blood pressure, low cholesterol, no diabestes, can walk 3 miles at a stretch, does Jazzersize and can outwork anyone in sight. I hope the insurance companies in this country get hogtied for such discrimination. Where was the pre-existing condition for this poor baby? - in utero? "30485328"
Posted by: Chris
Location: Columbus, OH
on Oct 12, 2009 at 05:56 PM
I have two children who were both larger than this baby at the same age neither one of them are close to being obese, although they are both still close to 90% in height. A baby's size has never been indicative of their potential adult size. The CDC height and weight charts have not been updated in decades and a real issue for those who have larger frames and muscular builds. Your average linebacker in football is rateable just on weight (ignoring the obvious issue of their career choice). Obama care is a joke but it is time to look at how insurance companies conduct their business and the ridiculous profit margins that are becoming standard. "30484073"
Posted by: Anonymous
on Oct 12, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Both my kids were over the 95th percentile, breastfed and totally healthy. Breastfed fat is totally different than formula fat. Both are trim, fit and healthy adults. "30483997"
Posted by: Mike
Location: South Dakota
on Oct 12, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Seriously, denying coverage to someone that is healthy loses a company money, they make money on insuring healthy people and denying/charging more for unhealthy people "30483236"
Posted by: Frank
Location: New Jersey
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:49 PM
The father worked at a major new network. There is noway in the world that anybody can tell me that they didn't offer health care bennifits. The mother worked and how her job offering health care benifits. This sounds more to me like a stunt to push Obama's crazy health care reform "30482798"
Posted by: Capn
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:34 PM
There is no such thing as feeding a baby too much! What a parent you must be... "30482403"
Posted by: John
Location: CA
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Amazing....like lets give Obamacare some more ammunition dipsticks. "30482378"
Posted by: Anonymous
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:23 PM
My kids have all been above the 90th percentile in both height and weight because our family is genetically taller than average. They were all 3 chubby until started walking. Every child grows differently and has growth spurts at diferent stages. Letting them set their own pace for eating encourages healthy eating habits during childhood. "30482243"
Posted by: Penelope
Location: New Orleans
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:21 PM
It's looks like someone is unable to have a beautiful, fat WHITE baby like this one and is angry about it. I am FED UP with people doing things to us because of jealousy, you hear me!!!!!!!! "30482188"
Posted by: Shawn
Location: Oklahoma
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Just another reason for heathcare reform time to stick it to the insurance companies for a change "30481987"
Posted by: gene
Location: las vegas
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:15 PM
I am not crazy about insurance companies polies, but come on people baby fat is healty fat. Isn't that an oxymoron in itself. If obesity starts in infancy odds are at 20 or sooner it will be a lifestyle. Then more serious problems will follow. The sad part as is in most cases it's not the child fault, but the parents that control and teach eating habits. Just look at Americas record the last 3 decades. Obesity was the number one health problem back in the late 1970's and has only gotten worse. Wake up people it's not about insurance it's about Americas eating habits. "30481866"
Posted by: Jamie V
Location: Phoenix
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:13 PM
You can't be breastfed too much Patty. That's insane. Some kids are just different sizes. Formula fed babies are actually at a much higher risk of being overweight. "30481757"
Posted by: KKCO Viewer
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:12 PM
The father is KKCO's morning show anchor Bernie Lange. Why this was not disclosed in the story is unknown. "30481753"
Posted by: Adrienne
Location: Chicago, IL
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:12 PM
My son-now 11, was an exclusively breastfed baby. At 4 months he was 20 lbs and nearly 28" long. My husband and I are tall, trim,fit and athletic individuals. Our son is a fit, trim and tall 11 year old now. It's obvious the health ins company is looking at their bottom line instead of considering the long term proven benefits of breastfed babies-better immunity, better overall health. Yes breast fed babies tend to be chunkier- though not always, it depends on their appetite. I wonder how many of their obese adult clients-many who don't control their eating are being dropped as well. This ins company has really stepped into it. I say the family sue the H-ll out of them...at the very least to expose what amounts to a bias against breast fed babies. "30481558"
Posted by: Kellie
Location: CA
on Oct 12, 2009 at 04:08 PM
If you go to the CDC or BMI sites it specifically says that it cannot determine BMI for children under the age of 2 years old. Seems to me someone needs to look into this a bit more. "30480646"
Posted by: Patty
Location: Troy, MI
on Oct 12, 2009 at 03:47 PM
This child is being breast fed way too much. He is overweight. I would be interested to see what his parents looks like. "30479658"
Posted by: Cris
Location: Pacific Northwest
on Oct 12, 2009 at 03:24 PM
This is just ridiculous my daughter was 18lbs at 3 months and has been my healthiest child. She is now 9 and a tall thin child. Baby fat from breastfeeding is healthy fat. "30476808"
Posted by: judey
Location: New Jersey
on Oct 12, 2009 at 02:22 PM
if they already had insurance and were covered, then i would be surprised to learn the baby would be denied. However, it appears this family was applying for new coverage, and in that case, an insurance company has the right to determine who they will cover. "30475312"
Posted by: Anonymous
on Oct 12, 2009 at 01:53 PM
I would get a lawyer to see what I would get out of it. In the meantime, do whatever you need to do to make sure that they baby is safe and medically protected> "30472638"
Posted by: lisa
Location: new yorl
on Oct 12, 2009 at 12:59 PM
personal e-mails for Rocky Mountain Health Plans - - - - - Flood them!!!! steve.erkenbrack@rmhp.org - CEO & PRESIDENT --skegj@aol.com -his personal e-mail account jhopkins@rmhp.org recruiter@rmhp.org david.herr@rmhp.org colleen.moss@rmhp.org medicare@rmhp.org SOLO_Sales_Team@rmhp.org pmohler@rmhp.org jferguson@rmhp.org customer_service@rmhp.org bmartin@rmhp.org adina.crigger@rmhp.org cmcdaniel@rmhp.org winhealthcustomer_service@rmhp.org jean.juskie@rmhp.org snolan@rmhp.org tiffany.dawe@rmhp.org svanhale@rmhp.org dhall@rmhp.org lcaselli@rmhp.org svanhale@rmhp.org jtroyer@RMHP.ORG Randall@RMHP.org lori_stephenson@rmhp.org dherr@rmhp.org roger.walt@rmhp.org twright@rmhp.org nyenter@rmhp.org lromero@rmhp.org erica.spencer@rmhp.org jan.rohr@rmhp.org bev.martin@rmhp.org ed.frederick@rmhp.org jcampbell@rmhp.org jferguso@rmhp.org carrie.hessel@rmhp.org pclark@rmhp.org Kayla.arnesen@rmhp.org tswanson@rmhp.org jbrown@rmhp.org "30471338"
Posted by: Vicki F.
Location: Louisiana
on Oct 12, 2009 at 12:33 PM
This baby should not be disqualified for health coverage even if he had a serious health issue. This is discrimination of a fine lovely baby. Insurance Companies are trying their best to deny coverage and that is why we need health care reform in America. It is pathetic that a baby and family are treated this way in our country. "30470362"
Posted by: Adam
Location: Grand Junction
on Oct 12, 2009 at 12:14 PM
And the Policy has already been changed by Rocky Mountain Health Plans, I love the quick response to this situation "30465221"
Posted by: Laura
Location: Arvada
on Oct 12, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I love to hear this guy trying to justify what is clearly an unconscionable decision. Insurance companies have us by the short hairs, and they definitely do NOT have our best interests at heart. They treat health care as a commodity to be bought and sold, which is a morally untenable position, IMO. "30381984"
Posted by: Vickie
Location: Palisade
on Oct 9, 2009 at 09:46 PM
I was shocked and outraged to hear that a baby was denied comverage for being too big. I had two children 20 years ago and they were both off of the growth charts. They were healthy, just big for their age. They are healthy, normal adults and I think the insurance companies have gone too far. If people think the government has no right telling them what to do, what do they think these insurance companies are doing, dictating our lives... What a scam, people need to wake up! |
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It is a real nonsense here. Insurance companies are so rude lately that it is really had to believe in it. I have heard many comedy - like situation but this one is the top for sure. If I would hear something like "your baby is too big..." I would go really mad. Sometimes I can't understand why do we need that insurance for sure. If they feel that some trouble can come up - they are denying an insurance for you. It is not normal at all. So if my baby is too big or too tall, I can't get any Family Vision Insurance Plans as I understood? I feel really sorry for kid's parents. However on the other hand, parents must keep their child healthy too. 99 percentiles is not good at all and it may make his future difficult. Visit the doctor or physician consultation and try to change something. Not because of insurance - just because of your child's future. Just be strong and everything will be fine.
I am the grandmother of another big baby and would like to know how little Alex is doing today. My grandson is 16 lbs at 10 weeks of age. He is off the chart for weight and 50% for height. He is breast fed too. I would like to get in touch with Alex's parents to see how Alex is growing. Our baby's father comes from a very tall family (all 6 feet tall). First child is very tall but slim.
Our oldest daughter was in the 75th percentile, and she looked well-fed. I imagine those bigger kids are just that - bigger. What kind of coverage are we talking about here, anyway? Life insurance? Breastfed kids are supposed to be healthy since they're being fed the healthiest stuff possible (according to my doc, anyway). I think it stinks the way the newsguy went with his story AFTER the company changed its policy. It didn't change because of the newsstory, it changed because they were convinced changing it was the right thing to do. Insurance companies do it more often than it's reported. Even they realize it can't all be sweepingly changed, but they are working on it. Why aren't there more stories about insurance companies who change policies simply to update them to allign with current situations? Also, don't move here because even though it's free, it's not the best system I could think of being a part of. We visit relatives in Minot just so we can see their docs.
My son was above the 97th percentile all through his baby time. He's now 19 months old and is in the 90th percentile. Fat babies are HEALTHY!! The pediatrician was fine with his weight. He is slowly losing his pudge as he runs around, but for heaven's sake, a 9 month old being obese? Give me a break.
My baby is 4 months old today and is above the 99th percentile. She is exclusively breastfed and is perfectly healthy. Unlike formula-fed babies, it is impossible to overfeed a breastfed baby. I'm glad I live in Canada where our health insurance system isn't so ignorant.
How in the hell can you deniel a baby health care? Well if obama gets his way that will be happening more and more .This is a perfect Exampleof why we don't need a government run health care Program
A baby's weight at 4 months old has no relation to how much they will weigh when they're older! When my son was 4 months old, he was in the 99th percentile, as well. Now he is almost three and he is in the 50th percentile! (Which is average)Chubby babies are usually cuter than the average size babies anyway :-D
As a parent of a similar child... please if you can reach the parents have them check out the web site listed JUST IN CASE Their child has the same condition (our child went undiagnosed for three years).. it is a distinct possibility! Their baby looks like a possible Prader-Willi baby... http://www.pwsausa.org/
Re: Danny Location Baton Rouge, Louisiana - as you can see by the post from M Location Grand Junction Rocky Mtn changed the policy BEFORE this media hype. It is VERY clear since you don't live here you don't know what this company does for Colorado. As far as having an employer standing behind you - they thought it was news worthy even though the problem had been solved - AGAIN you don't know Western Colorado - news must have been slow that day!!
Baby, only in America, Baby !!!!
Knowing the company from inside, this is a culture of RMHP. It's pretty sad....
Not one news station has mentioned that the insurance company made the decision to change the policy the day BEFORE the media disclosed which company it since the first report didn't even say who it was in the first place. This tells me this company cares about its members and choose to change the current policy to benefit it's members. i wish that point would be pointed out. Not one insurance company is perfect, and this one thing should not negate the recoginition this company has gotten nationally over the past few months.
I think it is a shame this man was able to vent his situation about his baby just because he has a job on TV. I have 2 disabled children that I have had to fight for their rights nonstop and have tried to no avail to have my story told because I am not a TV anchor. Unfair, where is FREEDOM OF SPEECH? And breastfed or not a baby should not be that big it is unhealthy. I am a mom to 7 children and I breastfed my babys too but none of my babys were obese and are thin children now.
Maybe we should all cancel our health Ins.Tell them to stick it where the sun don't shine
Re: Lyn Location: Grand Junction on Oct 13, 2009 at 10:48 AM The only reason they changed their policy is because of the embarassment and coverage by the media. How many of us would like to have an employer that stands behind their employee during tough times, and RIDICULOUS circumstances? I know I would. So YOU stop and think. They "righted" their wrong because it was a low down shame. And I bet the yhave quite a few FAT employees themselves, fully covered. Danny H.