Insurance Company Covers Baby Following Pressure

By Melissa Newton | FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) | March 30, 2010

The baby was born with a heart defect called D-transposition, where the two major arteries that carry blood away from the heart are switched. Doctors performed a life-saving surgery to repair the defect which was first discovered after he was born.

Tracey family

“I could probably say this was the worst thing I’ve ever had to encounter,” said Doug Tracy, Houston’s father.

Ten days later the family learned things could get worse.

“It was awful,” Houston’s mother Kim Tracy said.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas denied the newborn health insurance, claiming he had a pre-existing condition. It was first reported by CBS 11 Wednesday, and picked up by media outlets across the country the next day.

“With you and your story… it went national by Thursday afternoon,” Doug Tracy said. “By Friday Blue Cross Blue Shield was tired of the phone calls, tired of the emails.”

State Representative Chris Turner and State Senator Wendy Davis also backed the family and sent a letter to BCBS of Texas urging them to reconsider their decision to deny coverage.

“That didn’t happen until after the media,” Tracy explained.

“We understand what an emotional time this is for the Tracy family,” said BCBS representative Margaret Jarvis in a statement issued Sunday, “and are pleased to report that we’ve proposed a solution that addresses his and his family’s concerns.”

“It’s probably a bad experience turned really good,” Tracy said.

The Tracy’s have now learned they’ll be taking their baby home soon and that he’s going home insured. All of his medical expenses from day one will be covered in full by insurance.

“It’s been the best news I’ve had besides Houston’s going home soon,” Tracy said. “That’s the best news, the second best news is that Blue Cross Blue Shield stepped up to the plate and did what they needed to do.”

Now with one fight finished, the Tracy’s can focus solely on their son.

“We’re hoping to have him home by Easter,” the proud father said, “that would be the best Easter I’ve had in my life!”

Friends of the Tracy family started up a website for baby Houston.

It was to help raise money to cover the medical expense but since he now has insurance, the family says all the money donated will be given to Cook Children’s Medical Center, the hospital that saved their son.