Reston go-kart driver Ayrton Climo has been denied a return to the United States due to a lack of insurance coverage following his tragic crash during an August 1st practice run in Quebec.
Prior to the Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres, Canada’s largest karting event, the 18 year old crashed into hay bales before spinning into fellow karters, resulting in serious head injuries. After being rushed to the hospital, he had brain surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma.
Aryton’s parents, Lisa and Ed Climo, want their son to return to Virginia after he has shown small signs of improvement. The issue is their insurance through the Farifax County Public Schools, where Mrs. Climo is a teacher, has denied them coverage for transportation home. Estimated costs exceed $20,000 and the self-insurer CareFirst and Fairfax County have the ultimate say on the policy.
Apparently the policy with CareFirst does not cover international transportation home. This does not come as a surprise to insurance providers: “Some policies cover such a situation, some do not,” said Clare Krusing of America’s Health Insurance Plans, the prominent trade association of health insurers.
Mrs. Climo has urged Fairfax County schools to step in and grant the family an exception. Fairfax officials responded by stating insurance companies traditionally hand all decisions on coverage, then allowing the customer to appeal.
