The Boston Marathon bombing amputees were offered free prosthetics by a trade group representing makers of artificial limbs. The prosthetics will be provided free of cost to the 20 to 25 victims of the bombings.
The Coalition To Run & Walk Again made the offer for initial services and prosthetics not covered by insurance on Tuesday during a conference call.
Three people died, and 264 were injured in the blasts, which came from two pressure cooker bombs placed near the end of the Boston Marathon on April 15. One of the suspects died in a shootout with police on April 19, while the other suspect was captured the next day.
Victims of the Boston Marathon bombings now face staggering medical bills that could be as much as $450,000 The association’s offer will help the victims with some of the cost while donations have been pouring in to several other accounts set up to help them.
The association will cover a portion of the amputees’ expected costs. Victims who lost both legs will pay the most. Their estimated medical bills for the next five years could top $450,000, according to Tom Fise, the executive director of the association.
The AOPA estimated that at least half of the bombing amputees lack the amount of insurance required to cover their prosthetic costs. Some policies provide as little as $1,000 per device or only cover one limb. Kendra Calhoun, president of the Amputee Coalition, an organization supporting the estimated 2 million amputees in the United States, added:
“The last thing that someone should have to worry about when they lose … a leg is to have adequate insurance for a prosthetic device.”
Members of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association will help provide the evaluation needed to design the devices and treat the bombing victims. At least one of the amputees is a child. Meanwhile, the One Fund, a relief group set up to provide aid to the victims of the attack, has brought in at least $27.7 million in donations to help out.
Even with all the support pouring in, it is likely the victims will still have to pay at least some of their medical costs.
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