Four-Month-Old Baby Turned Down for Health Insurance. He's Too 'Fat'!
This illustrates the absolute absurdity of our for-profit healthcare system, doesn't it? A four-month-old is turned down for insurance coverage because he's "obese":
GRAND JUNCTION — Alex Lange is a chubby, dimpled, healthy and happy 4-month-old.
But in the cold, calculating numbered charts of insurance companies, he is fat. That's why he is being turned down for health insurance. And that's why he is a weighty symbol of a problem in the health care reform debate.
Insurance companies can turn down people with pre-existing conditions who aren't covered in a group health care plan.
Alex's pre-existing condition — "obesity" — makes him a financial risk. Health insurance reform measures are trying to do away with such denials that come from a process called "underwriting."
"If health care reform occurs, underwriting will go away. We do it because everybody else in the industry does it," said Dr. Doug Speedie, medical director at Rocky Mountain Health Plans, the company that turned down Alex.
By the numbers, Alex is in the 99th percentile for height and weight for babies his age. Insurers don't take babies above the 95th percentile, no matter how healthy they are otherwise.
"I could understand if we could control what he's eating. But he's 4 months old. He's breast-feeding. We can't put him on the Atkins diet or on a treadmill," joked his frustrated father, Bernie Lange, a part-time news anchor at KKCO-TV in Grand Junction. "There is just something absurd about denying an infant."
Bernie and Kelli Lange tried to get insurance for their growing family with Rocky Mountain Health Plans when their current insurer raised their rates 40 percent after Alex was born. They filled out the paperwork and awaited approval, figuring their family is young and healthy. But the broker who was helping them find new insurance called Thursday with news that shocked them.
" 'Your baby is too fat,' she told me," Bernie said.
Up until then, the Langes had been happy with Alex's healthy appetite and prodigious weight gain. His pediatrician had never mentioned any weight concerns about the baby they call their "happy little chunky monkey."
His 2-year-old brother, Vincent, had been a colicky baby who had trouble putting on pounds.
At birth, Alex weighed a normal 8 1/4 pounds. On a diet of strictly breast milk, his weight has more than doubled. He weighs about 17 pounds and is about 25 inches long.
"I'm not going to withhold food to get him down below that number of 95," Kelli Lange said. "I'm not going to have him screaming because he's hungry."
UPDATE from Raw Story:
Rocky Mountain Health Plans, a Colorado health insurer, announced in a press release Monday that they will cover "heavy" babies after a story revealed the insurer had denied coverage to a healthy infant who weighed 17 pounds.
"A recent situation in which we denied coverage to a heavy, yet healthy, infant brought to our attention a flaw in our underwriting system for approving infants," Steve ErkenBrack, president of the insurer said in a release Monday. "Because we are a small company dedicated to the people of Colorado, we are pleased to be in a position to act quickly. We have changed our policy, corrected our underwriting guidelines and are working to notify the parents of the infant who we earlier denied."
They want the babies to be thin and svelte!
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Now we just need to catch insurance companies in the act on the millions of other loopholes, dishonest policies, and malevolent practices that they use every day to prey on honest citizens and the health care industry will be fixed in no time!
As if this denial is some kind of a anomaly?
How many other parents were forced to consider making their baby go hungry for healthcare?
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
My guess would be 1 in 20 sets of parents, (since they routinely deny infants above the 95 percentile).
No biggie. 1) You can always take them to the emergency room AFTER something bad happens, which isn't as bad as it sounds, because we all know that babies can't feel pain... or is that fish?
And 2) Babies are not fetuses, and therefore society has no obligation to protect them. Once they're born they must fend for themselves without the help of some fascist commie politician giving them handouts... unless of course they grow up to be the CEO of a financial institution.
has backpedaled, and decided to cover this baby...this was on several news programs last night...seems that the outpouring of anger towards their original decision changed their minds, lol.
one could do an open records act to find out how many babies did not get reinstated because their daddy is a television news anchor who got the "chunky moneky" on national news.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I am a jaded SOB, but the absolutely cold hearted evil that these insurance companies display, really just takes me aback...
How can corporations such as these be allowed to exist?
I say jail them for willful negligence. See how long they still wanna be people then.
Seize their assets, and nationalize them all!
This unfettered and unregulated capitalism has nearly destroyed this country.
They deserve no quarter.
If the parents decide to switch to some other company, that company will see that the child was denied insurance once before and likely deny them coverage or increase premiums.
Greed and insanity are the basic threads that holds the republican party together. Of coarse you have to add the blue dogs to that mix of greed and insanity.
Tried to help you.
:)
"Let's talk dirty to the animals"
Public shaming still works in this country, Thank God! The Fourth Estate ROCKS.
It should not be necessary to use shame to get a company to adhere to ethical guidelines and the conditions of a legal contract.
We really need a single payer system so that we can get rid of this nonsense.
How much coverage did they give this kind of insurance denial until it hit the "chunky monkey" of a news anchor? This fell into the lazy lap of the press.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Someone should set up a website and encourage anyone who has been turned down for coverage for any reason to chime in. This way the country could see how lop sided this mess is.
I guess I'm the only one that thinks this little guy looks like a baby Glenn Beck, especially the still shot where the baby is crying.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
with babies in diapers appearing to be crawling downhill?
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I don't know nothin' about photographin' babies, Miss Scarlet.
I have no children, by choice.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
you mean.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
No! No children at all and I wouldn't have cared if they were homo-nids. Oh and no hominids either.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
EXCELLENT idea! I wonder if it's been done yet? Maybe C&L could sponsor or promote somehow?
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
At least for its own employees. Or at least for its own public, on-air employees. The rest of us, not so much.
Congress passed a law making it a federal offense to criticize Insurance Corporations.
Ewe Ess Aye!
than a ewe.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
You've got to be fucking kidding me!
Seriously? OMG.
never mind.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
I made it up. You believed it.
If I had read that, I would have believed it too.
It's a sad state of affairs when a snarky line like that could be considered serious for even a moment.
But it has really gotten THAT bad, hasn't it.
My bad. It does prove my point.
"Free market" means that corporations are free to do whatever they can get away with.
Like passing laws requiring we the people buy their pitiful automobile insurance.
Coming next: The requirement to buy unaffordable, worthless "healthcare" policies.
Requiring that you buy their crap, and they can drop you the moment that you need it.
Then I had to edit my responses as if I believed it. You got me twice.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Here's what's on my mind, if this BS baucus bill passes, and we're required to buy crappy insurance, or else.
The resulting protests would make the asstro-turfin teabagger parties, look like...well...asstro-turfin teabagger parties.
There will be MILLIONS of righteously pissed off people, libs, mods, and cons.
All furious at the govt. AND the fascist insurance companies.
You are a very bad, bad boy ;)
He should be punished accordingly!
I recommend 24 hours of watching tom delay shake his booty.
That's cruel and unusual punishment!
Let's give Mick one more chance ;)
someday...
You forgot the amendment that added Banksters and War Contractors to the list of the exalted.
It was Diane Feinstein that got that one through.
statusquObama, change you can only pretend in
They're afraid he'll become a liberal documentarian?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
how fortunate that daddy works for a local news outlet and realized he had a timely story -- that was picked up by the denver paper.
just how many other parents were denied -- but didn't have the ability to fight back against these parasitic assholes.
Alex looks perfectly normal, happy and healthy. Anybody who would call him obese needs to get their eyes checked.
btw, at the bottom of this page there's an ad for Enfamil Gentlease A+ baby formula, which "was found to quickly relieve fussiness and gas, with fewer constipation complaints". Rocky Mountain Health Plans must have taken a dose of it.
. . . wouldn't want to be responsible for that kid's poor choices with regard to his health. If he'd been properly taking care of himself, he'd have picked a healthier set of breasts to feed from.
for charity. Isn't that the Cantor Plan?
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Same thing.
on my apostrophedic mattress to be that clever this early, and I am a time zone ahead of you.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
highlighted a "flaw in our underwriting system for approving infants
clearly, having a company spokesmodel tell the parents their kid was too fat doesn't work; the rational must be rewritten in more obtuse and misleading language.
. . . in our explanatory process."
Starve him if you have to. He's only 4-5 months old. He's got plenty of time to bounce back. No problem. Just feed him once every other day.
Just think of all the money they'll save. They'll be able to get 1/3 coverage(for about 6 months) and they'll be able to take that dream vacation they've always wanted to Denver./
What is your conceptual, continuity?
perhaps?
He's a tiny little fat fucker. No problem. Don't feed him as much. Every other day ought to do it.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
however.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Ear plugs.
Those folks have to be able to give the ins companies more than they can afford.. They just have to. The Ins co's need the money.
We can't have those CEO's going without can we?
I mean SHIT! They have to have that 5th house in where ever they want.
C'mon, where's your sense of fair play?
Without them, we'd probably end up healthier and Happier.
And we can't have that can we?
On a serious note.
I can't believe this country has gotten this low. Low to a point that they'll throw an infant into the gutter. I'd like to know what these so called Christians say about this. Save the fetus, it's not their problem now.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLcfz8jMKzM
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Attend a Sundance Film Festival?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
It's not all bad news for the insurance companies. Thankfully once they get their "national computerized health records" up and running, little Alex can be denied coverage 20 years from now for this pre-existing condition that will never be removed from his records.
Galloo, gallay!
we are focused on the tubby tyke being denied coverage. What about the fact that the current insurance company was trying to raise this family's rates 40% which caused the Rocky Mountain Health Plan folks to enbter the picture in the first place?
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
Alex looks like a normal four-month-old.
In the next year, his trunk and legs and arms will develop. This will enable him to do new things; crawling, walking, reaching, aiming an effective grasp at anything and everything. The fat and cholesterol that he stores now will be used to myelinate the nerves to his extremeties etc.
WTF?!?
he looks bigger than any 4 month old kid I've ever seen...which to be honest, ain't that many.
But that still is no reason for an insurance company to deny coverage.
Offensive Left Tackle.
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
You stole my thought. Get out of my head! :-)
NOBODY 2012
length and weight at 4 or 5 months was at least 6' tall and a solid, big kid all around but very healthy I should add, by the time he turned 15.
I can't imagine some insurance company turning Bobby down for insurance 21 years ago just because he was a big baby!
I've never seen change without a fire
will be considered a pre-existing, uninsurable condition.
Why not just bypass all paperwork and provide all bank account info and let the insurers deduct the 'appropriate' amount directly.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I know you guys just cooked up this mess to find out exactly how
long you could keep us stuck in it
that the only reason this incident got traction is because the dad works for the MSM.
Before enlightenment - chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment - chop wood, carry water.
.
I shudder at the idea that there are many, MANY others out there that are in similar situations. Just not in positions to actually do a damned thing significant.
.
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.
Who cares as long as it got out there.
ROLY POLY
by Fred Rose
Roly Poly, eatin' corn and taters
Hungry every minute of the day
Roly Poly, gnawin' on a biscuit
Long as he can chew it it's ok
He can eat an apple pie
And never even bat an eye
He likes everything from soup to hay
Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty
Bet he's gonna be a man someday *
Roly Poly, scrambled eggs for breakfast
Bread and jelly 20 times a day
Roly Poly eats a hearty dinner
It takes lots of strength to run and play
Pulls up weeds and does the chores
Runs both ways to all the stores
He works up an appetite that way
Roly Poly, daddy's little fatty
Bet he's gonna be a man someday
_________________________
Copyright 1946 by Milene Music, Inc.
I've got that on a country compilation a friend made me...love that song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz3bllK9Z1o
Sorry, if you do Tommy Duncan you gotta do Bob Wills.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD-K1UtH20k&fe...
"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter
My dad used to sing that song about Roly Poly. I thought he just made it up, I had no idea it was a real song. Damn! The things I learn here at C&L are just truly amazing.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Never mind, I'm sure we can trust these baby-haters to police themselves.
once again display their lack of interest in providing health care.
what was that about bureaucracy getting between your doctor and you? shouldn't the insurers have consulted the babies doctor to see if the baby was healthy? not a chart?
This must be an example of that death panel I was hearing about a couple of months ago. Anybody got an email address for McCaughey or Palin that I can pass this article along to?
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Feed Americans.
... working in/for the insurance companies can past their own fat test?
recognise the errors of their ways after highly publicised ranting and raving, pointing and laughing done by people in the real world.
These assholes are too big to survive.
me-oww!
Rocky Mountain Health Plans: Oh shit! They're on to us! Quick do something humanitarian!
Kids day at the gym is an eye-opener.. so much blubber! beyond fat! What are we doing? What are we allowing to be done to our kids? We've allowed them to become vehicles for corporate commodification.
I don't know enough about this baby but the insurance company seems to be acting rationally within the system we have allowed.. not that I approve of this system. Fat babies tend to be obese kids tend to be morbidly obese adults.. many are covered from birth by their parents' insurance. The insurance company is likely reducing its risk early by not accepting a condition which could later not be dismissed as pre-existing.
I agree with those who say we need to focus on health and in health care for all (single payer being my preferred method).. I agree also with those who point out that there are a variety of healthy body types, I just don't agree that obesity is one of them. The health insurance company is merely acting rationally within the inhumane system we allow and to which we submitt. We need desparately to change the system and to focus on re-evaluating our life styles.
... about how the kid's only food is breast milk!?
By definition 'obesity' is not healthy, but babies eating naturally does not indicate in life long propensity.
Curious how Republicans claim to defend the rights of the 'unborn'- yet once a baby is born, they lose all interest....
Right wingers prefer the fetus to the baby- what's up with that?
Just ask Orrin Hatch.
All I can say is, up here in Canada no babies are ever denied health coverage...no citizens are denied. But that' just our crazy, cost effective, universal system.
Here in the civilized world (that is every other developed nation on Earth) we just shake our heads in disbelief at this kind of story. It is inconceivable outside of the US that such a thing could happen.
Public option? Go single payer and slay the beast once and for all.
has health care.
Sadly, Natalie Sarkysian had to die before Cigna finally relented and approved her liver transplant.
For every baby like little Alex who gets helped, think of the millions right now who will die today because of health insurance whores like Cigna, etc. 122 will die today. over 45,000 people will die this year because of people like Max Baucus in the Senate.
"By words the mind is winged." - Aristophanes
That kid's NOT fat. We live in a society where people think Tyra Banks and Jennifer Love Hewitt are fat. Jesus!
And seriously, what would the parents "need" to do? Starve the child? F'n morons.
NOBODY 2012
Hasn't this baby ever heard of personal responsibility? We can't have this little tub of guts being a drain on the healthcare system paying the same rate as the responsible THIN babies! Lay off the Twinkies baby and try WALKING to McDonalds once in a while!
You're fucking kidding me, right?! I'm one of those people who are sure as hell going to Hell in a handbasket, but it makes me sick when people virtually shit on /babies/ who fucking can't do shit to harm anything. Eat shit, bastard.
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