Insurance Company Agrees To Insure 'Underweight' Girl

By GottaLaff

See what a little pressure can do? ::coughpublicoption!cough::

Yesterday, we posted about this, and today? Voila!

The insurance company that initially denied coverage to a 2-year-old girl because she was "underweight" has reversed its stance.

On Wednesday afternoon, UnitedHealthcare's Golden Rule Insurance Company issued a statement that said, "As part of our standard appeals process, we undertook additional review of Aislin Bates' medical records and determined that, in fact, we can offer her health insurance coverage."

Ohhh, after their "standard" appeals process. I see. It had nothing to do with the horrendous publicity they were getting. Speaking of which...

7NEWS asked if negative publicity led to the insurance company's change of heart.

Laden said, "I would like to think not."

I bet she would like to think not. Think again, Ellen.

So how can an insurance company deny coverage? In Colorado, individual health insurance is medically underwritten. Each company has its own guidelines.

The question is are the guidelines fair and are they being used consistently?

"The individual market is a trainwreck in Colorado," said State Sen. Morgan Carroll.

Carroll said insurers can deny anybody for almost any reason.

"They can screen for anything they want and can cherrypick who they want to insure," Carroll said.

When the Commissioner of Insurance was asked about an insurance company refusing to cover underweight or overweight children, she said they could, under their own guidelines, which each company drafts.

And there you have it. "The" argument for a robust public option.