Anthem Approves Paralyzed Toddler’s Wheelchair, but Not Wheels


Little Crue Allred has outgrown his ZipZac wheelchair, but Anthem insurance is balking at approving new wheels for the 2 year old.
Little Crue Allred has outgrown his ZipZac wheelchair, but Anthem insurance is balking at approving a new wheelchair for the 2-year-old boy.

When their 2-year-old son, Crue, was denied a new wheelchair — twice — despite being paralyzed with spina bifida, Aubrey and Joe Allred waged a social media campaign to either prompt Anthem Blue Cross to do the right thing or to raise enough money to get Crue the chair he needs. The Kingsburg, Calif., couple says it worked, as Anthem finally approved Crue’s chair last week. However, as of right now, only the chair has been approved — not the wheels.

The Allreds initially submitted the claim last October and when it was denied, resubmitted it this past December. Anthem says it didn’t initially approve a new chair for Crue because it didn’t get the paperwork from the medical provider on time. “Anthem asked repeatedly for medical records to show that the equipment requested was medically necessary,” said Anthem spokesperson Darrell Ng in a statement. “When the information was not received before the deadline, Anthem was unable to approve the request. In the last week, Anthem was able to contact the provider and receive the necessary documentation, and the request for a wheelchair was approved.”

Aubrey, Crue’s mother, disputes Anthem’s claim that the 45-day deadline was missed. “We had the papers in way before the deadline,” she says. She believes Anthem simply did not want to approve a wheelchair for a toddler. “I didn’t hear directly from Anthem, but I was told through our provider that Anthem had said they would only cover a wheelchair every five years and that when he’s 5 years old to try again.” In the meantime, it was suggested that the parents push their child around in a stroller.

After Anthem originally denied Allred’s wheelchair, Aubrey took to social media to vent her frustration, and from there the story was picked up by numerous news outlets. A GoFundMe page was soon started to raise $6,000 for a wheelchair for Crue while the Allreds battled Anthem and as of March 29, the page has raised over $20,000. “We’re going to use the money to provide everything he needs in order for him to have an independent and successful life,” says Aubrey.


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