It was addressed to their newborn baby<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSadly, I guess it is appropriate that our preemie baby\u2019s first experience in the world<\/a> is having it\u2019s health care<\/a> coverage denied,\u201d said the father<\/a>, New York<\/a>-based comedian<\/a> Blake Wexler, as TikTok<\/a> user blakewexler<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the letter, the child<\/a>\u2019s name<\/a> was not even included, with the message starting \u201cDear Baby Girl Twin A.,\u201d seemingly recognizing that the addressee was an infant<\/a>. The episode highlighted widespread concerns about how insurers communicate with patients during critical medical moments.<\/p>\n UnitedHealthcare later apologized, telling Newsweek in a statement that the couple are \u201care not responsible for the cost of the final two days of their baby\u2019s NICU stay.\u201d The company has also shared that they have volunteered to assume the costs of the stay anyways, despite not technically being liable.<\/p>\n Before that apology, however, Wexler\u2019s viral<\/a> clip had been watched 7.6 million times within a day online<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you thought that was inhumane, you\u2019re right,\u201d he told his almost 18,000 followers.<\/p>\n TikTok<\/a> contributors were similarly appalled by the insurance<\/a> company\u2019s policy and process of informing the family<\/a> amid 21,000 comments.<\/p>\n \u201cTHIS HAPPENED TO ME! They said her NICU stay wasn\u2019t \u2018medically<\/a> necessary,\u2019 like she got elective surgery<\/a> or something,\u201d a fellow parent in a similar situation shared, pointing out the importance of treating a premature infant in intensive care.<\/p>\n \u201cThis happened to me. Baby A was covered, but Baby B was not because they said I already had a baby that day,\u201d another parent recalled.<\/p>\n Astronomical Cost<\/p>\n Others were upset that Wexler and his wife invaded their child\u2019s privacy<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe you just opened Baby Twin Girl A\u2019s mail<\/a> like that,\u201d a pundit joked.<\/p>\n For parents of babies<\/a> in the NICU, insurance<\/a> coverage can be life-changing, as the cost<\/a> of treating a baby in the unit can be astronomical, especially for longer stays.<\/p>\n \u201cA child between 18 and 24 months of age who was admitted to the highest-level NICU (Level IV), an intensive care unit reserved for newborns with complex neonatal conditions, incurs an average total cost of $117,878, including $3,265 in out-of-pocket expenses,\u201d according to Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker<\/a>.<\/p>\n When faced with these costs, many parents have no choice but to turn to their insurance companies<\/a>. If these companies refuse coverage, however, the results can be devastating.<\/p>\n Appealing Denials<\/p>\n Luckily, research<\/a> has shown that in most cases where NICU coverage was denied, the decision can be appealed.<\/p>\n \u201cA study by the Government Accountability Office found that many denials can be traced to largely trivial bureaucratic issues, such as missing form or an incorrect billing code,\u201d reveals Dr. Eugene Mahmoud in a paper on the subject in Neonatology Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen patients<\/a> challenged the insurer\u2019s denials, about half of the rejected claims ended up being covered.\u201d<\/p>\n Though not a surefire way to ensure coverage, this fact may be helpful for Wexler and other parents in his situation.<\/p>\n ‘We are truly sorry’<\/p>\n In its statement to Newsweek<\/a>, United Healthcare said it was working to rectify the situation with Wexler and his family.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand the Wexler family\u2019s frustration about their experience with us, and we are truly sorry that we added confusion at a time when they needed clarity and support. We have reached out to the family to explain that they are not responsible for the cost of the final two days of their baby\u2019s NICU stay.\u201d<\/p>\n The insurance company also acknowledged the impact of the letter.<\/p>\n \u201cWe regret how we initially shared this information<\/a> and we are committing to improving how we communicate<\/a>\u2014especially with new parents navigating moments like this\u2014moving forward,\u201d the company told Newsweek.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope the Wexler twins are home now, settling in, and that the whole family is finding moments of rest, joy and healing together in the days ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"NICU\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2656946-nicu.jpg\"\/)
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