When doctors said 1-year-old Stella McMahon needed an emergency air ambulance to reach a specialized treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, her insurer initially said no. The flight, they argued, was not necessary. Stella, who is being treated for a rare infant T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ultimately got to Ohio the same day anyway, after a social media plea went viral and strangers stepped in to cover the cost. Among them were billionaire Mark Cuban and a claims-appeal startup, and the family says the insurer later reversed its denial.
How the flight came together
Facing silence on a pre-authorization request for air transport, Stella’s mother, Alexandria McMahon, recorded a phone call with the insurer and then posted the clip on…..