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About 130,000 Americans have limbs amputated every year, and many of them have trouble paying for prosthetic devices because their health insurance doesn't cover the cost.
A bill in Maryland, however, could soon make the devices more affordable.
Two years ago, a car struck Lorenzo Smith injuring his right leg so badly it had to be amputated.
"I guess God had a plan for me, he knew I wouldn't be playing football or basketball," said Smith.
Albertha Smith was shocked her insurance company only covered half the cost of her son's $18,000 prosthesis, so to afford her share Albertha hosted a walk-a-thon and gala.
"I've been paying insurance now for 20 years and I never thought this would have happened to me, but it did," said Smith.
Some insurance companies don't cover prosthetics at all, some limit patients to one per lifetime and some set a cap on the cost.
The proposed Prosthetic Parity Act in Maryland would require insurance companies to fully cover the devices like Medicaid and Medicare do.
"They pay their premiums each month. It only seems fair and it only makes sense economically that they're able to have that care covered by their private insurance plans," said Morgan Smith of the Amputee Coalition of America.
The average prosthetic is $8,000, but some cost up to $50,000.
Medicare estimates a prosthetic's lifetime is five years, but growing children need new devices more frequently.
"Remember these are mechanical devices; they wear out like your car, your blender or any other mechanical device," said Emergency Medicine Physician Dr. John Rush.
Several private insurance companies in Maryland wouldn't comment on the act. But in a letter sent to Maryland's Senate they argue the bill would force them to pay more for prosthetics and take away their ability to cap costs and evaluate the need for a device.
The Maryland Senate has sent the bill to be reviewed by the state's health care commission.
When you consider the high cost of insurance right now. We have to look at it. We have a responsibility to look at it," said Sen. Thomas Middleton, D-Md.
As for 15-year-old Lorenzo, he hopes the bill will pass so he can afford a more advanced device and return to playing sports.
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