When famed race horse Barbaro broke his leg during the Preakness Stakes in 2006, the world cheered as he attempted a comeback. But eight months later, unable to overcome complications of a bone infection, he had to be put down.

"At least they didn't shoot me, they just took my leg off," Stanley said.

But getting a carbon fiber leg put back on costs $18,000, and it's one of the least expensive prosthetics available. Prosthetic limbs cost anywhere from $5,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and insurance companies' prosthetic policies leave something to be desired, say amputees. Most policies cover one limb per lifetime (limbs last 3-5 years) or $2,500 a year.

That much money will get you about "half a foot," says Stanley, who is helping Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, carry a bill in the legislative session that would mandate insurance companies to at least match what Medicaid offers: 80 percent of the cost of a prosthetic limb with no cap.

Heavy burden

The cost isn't cheap for amputees and it's not cheap for insurance carriers either. And mandating an increase in coverage isn't likely to go over well. The bill has already been a multiyear battle in which Stanley got only a sympathetic ear from her lawmakers in Orem who don't like the idea of government burdening private enterprise.

SelectHealth, IHC's insurance branch, is one of the few that has plans that cover the 80 percent with no cap, the same coverage the bill is calling for. The company, which had 40 claims filed since 2006, also works with prosthetic providers to find additional cost savings for customers. But, said spokesman Jason Burgess, no one likes facing a mandate, even if you're probably not going to be affected.

It won't be cheap for the state either. The bill carries a whopping $2.5 million fiscal note because the state's Public Employees Health Program has 78 employees who could be affected. That works out to about $32,000 each.

While the cost is high, Litvack said he sees that as "recognition of the problem."

"This can't be described as your typical mandate," he said. "This speaks to the heart of what insurance is supposed to be about."

A savings with the cost

Stanley and Litvack insist there are savings to be had despite the initial cost.

At 49 years old and with one leg, Stanley still bikes, goes to the gym, skis and is trying to become the driver of the U.S. Disabled Bobsled Team. It's mostly due to having good prosthetics and a good attitude. But there are amputees who can't afford a prosthetic or whose prosthetic is so old that it's unusable. Those people become less active, stop working and can develop health problems.

An acquaintance of Stanley died in October after developing complications from inactivity. He had the same limb for nearly 20 years because his insurance wouldn't provide for another, and it was so broken down and ill-fitting that it was unusable.

"It's not allowing people who want to be contributing members of society to get back and be able to do that," she said.

Stanley said even at 80 percent of funding, prosthetics are going to be difficult to purchase. She even has a financial donor who helps pay for her leg.

But amputees should be at least given that much, she contends, especially when many insurance companies cover 80 percent of such operations, such as breast and penile implants.

"I think we've got our priorities misconstrued here," Stanley sighs.

There are approximately 2 million people with limb loss in the United States (excluding fingers and toes). There are more than 185,000 new amputations preformed each year in this country.

Source: Amputee Coalition of America

House Bill 108, Prosthetic Limb Health Insurance Parity

Sponsor: Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City

This bill would amend the Insurance Code to require accident and health insurers provide coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices.