Insurance Fairness for Amputees: May 17, 2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Waymon Tisdale Remembered

I was deeply saddened to hear the news of the death of Wayman Tisdale. He was a musician, basketball star and amputee with an incredible spirit and generous heart. After his amputation, he set up a foundation to help children and families whose prosthetics were not covered by insurance. He was a bright, shining star - a beautiful example of courage and grace.

Quote of the Moment

Jeffrey Cain, MD, is a bilateral lower-limb amputee and a member of the Amputee Coalition’s Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Committee. Dr. Cain is an excellent example of how prosthetic devices can help amputees function in their daily lives and contribute to society rather than become dependent on it.

“Being able to have prosthetic devices means that I can take care of my patients and teach medical students,” said Dr. Cain.

Unfortunately, working people with employer-provided health insurance plans are often the ones with the biggest problems, Dr. Cain noted. “Because employer-provided insurance plans are increasingly introducing unreasonable limits and caps, if you have a job in America – if you are a hardworking member of society – you can’t afford a leg to stand on. It’s gotten that bad.”