Woman With Mouth Cancer Faces New Battle After Having Tongue Removed

LA VERNE (CBSLA.com) — A mother of a 25-year-old woman who recently had her tongue removed due to Stage 4 mouth cancer says her daughter's insurance carrier has refused to pay for the formula she requires.

Since having her tongue removed, Angie Mattos has had to be fed through a tube six times a day. The formula she receives is her only source of nutrition as she can no longer consume food by mouth.

But her mother Laura Mattos, who cares for her, says she was shocked to learn that her insurance company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co., has refused to pay for her formula.

"I have to be strong because she's being so strong. Deep down inside, it's killing me," Laura Mattos told CBS2's Kristine Lazar.

In documents, the company states: "All nutritional supplements and formulae are excluded, except for infant formula needed for the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism ... "

Laura Mattos says the formula costs roughly around $500 for a one-month supply, which their family cannot afford.

"Not right now especially. I had to take time off, and I'm the only one working," she said.

The family has sent emails and spent hours on the phone with the insurance company.

The last email they received six days ago denied coverage, stating: "Formula is excluded unless medically necessary for an infant under 12 months old."

In the three weeks since her surgery, Mattos has lost 35 pounds.

Her family isn't only worried she'll lose too much weight if she doesn't get enough formula, they're desperate for her to keep her strength up because her cancer fight is far from over.

"She's going to start radiation treatments every day for six and a half weeks, maybe longer, and in between that she'll have chemo," she explained.

Mattos' family has reached out to the American Cancer Society and they are trying to find donated formula tube-feeding patients no longer need. They've set up a gofundme page as well. Click here for more information.

"I'm not going to let my daughter starve," she said.

Cigna responded to CBS2's request for comment late Thursday, confirming the formula isn't covered. The insurance company did say, however, that a case manager would be in touch with the family to identify other possible options.

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