A Pasco County teen who is allergic to all foods is finding his sole source of sustenance threatened by a change in insurance coverage and current Florida state law.

  • Remington Walls, 17, suffers from eosinophilic esophagitis
  • Condition makes him allergic to all food - he gets nutrition through formula
  • Formula was covered by insurance his entire life until last January

Seventeen-year-old Remington Walls goes to school, plays baseball, and hangs out with friends like many other teens his age.

But his life is actually much different from his peers. He gets nutrition from a juice box -- specifically, an amino acid formula he's had to consume since he was four years old.

“It's my only source of food," said Walls. "When I run out I can't go to a grocery store, stop at McDonald's and get whenever I want -- I have to have it."

Walls has a disease called eosinophilic esophagitis that renders him allergic to all foods. The family has attempted food trials, but none have been successful.

"I would cough a lot, I might get violently sick, vomiting, all that kind of stuff," said Walls.

Due to his eosinophilic esophagitis, the only way Remington Walls can get nutrition is via this amino acid formula. (Bay News 9)

This past January, Walls's family went to order a new case of the formula. They were told the drink was no longer covered under their new insurance.

“We were told in the beginning was that it was a supplement, and they do not cover supplements," said Stephanie Walls, Remington’s mom.

The family is on Remington’s father -- Mike Walls's -- insurance. They were covered all these years while he worked for Verizon.

However, when Verizon was bought by Frontier their insurance plan changed, and costs for the formula were no longer covered.

With the amounts Walls needs for daily sustenance, the out-of-pocket expense for the amino acid formula is about $2,000 a month.

Even with third-party doctors from their insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, deeming the formula necessary, the family says their provider still wouldn’t budge.

“This is my son," said Stephanie. "This is his life, this is his source of nutrition, and you don't get the right to make that judgment call, you cannot chose the dollar over his life."

The family is now working with state lawmakers to change legislation.

“The hope is that in two to three years perhaps we can have a bill in the state of Florida that mandates elemental formula coverage for those that need it," said Stephanie.

In the meantime, the family is getting some temporary relief. Mike Walls's company says it will cover the costs of the formula through the end of the year.

Friends of the family, meanwhile, are raising money for the Walls to help pay for the out-of-pocket costs of the formula that will likely kick in next year. To help them with a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/remington-walls.

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