Every insurance claim is a battle for this toddler’s family

To prevent pneumonia, Carrie Lazoen says her 2-year-old daughter, Emmalyn, needs a “shaky vest.”

Emmy, as her family calls her, has a rare genetic condition called Aicardi syndrome. The disease — which can shorten life expectancy — affects her brain, causing seizures , vision problems and significant developmental delays. As a result, Emmy can’t walk independently. Everyday activities require careful monitoring. She can’t sit on her own or hold her head up for long.

A shaky vest, formally called a high-frequency chest wall oscillation vest, vibrates when Emmy wears it to loosen and clear mucus in her lungs.

But Lazoen said it took several months and three denials before the family’s primary health insurance , United Healthcare, approved coverage to rent the vest. In one denial let