BOSTON -- A woman severely injured in a car accident is appealing to lawmakers on Beacon Hill to make aquatic therapy coverage mandatory for all health insurance plans.

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported Wednesday that aquatic therapy is a popular treatment for stroke victims, people with arthritis and victims of serious trauma, but it is not covered by all health insurance.

Ten years ago, Amanda Smart almost died in a car accident. Severe brain trauma sent Smart into a coma for weeks and left her unable to walk.

"She had an injury at a severity level that we're often concerned that people won't recover," HealthSouth Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital's Dr. Douglas Katz said.

But Smart recovered and underwent months of intense physical therapy -- including daily sessions in the pool.

"The water helps to eliminate the effects of gravity and allows a person to work on movements and activities that otherwise would be much more difficult," Katz said.

"It's amazing because you're able to walk when you can't walk on (the) ground. You can walk in the pool," Smart said.

Within a few months, Smart was walking again and impressing her doctors.

"I think there's a good possibility that she walked earlier than she would have because of aquatic therapy," Smart said.

Smart's aquatic therapy was covered by her parents' health insurance, but Smart was shocked to learn that some insurance does not cover the treatment. Now that Smart could stand, she felt it was time to stand up for others.

"It definitely could help so many people. That is why I'm trying to get this bill passed," Smart said.

Senate bill No. 754 would require all health insurance plans to provide coverage for aqua therapy as long as needed when authorized by a physician.

Critics said that mandating coverage will only add to the already skyrocketing health care costs. But Smart believes that covering aqua therapy could help disabled citizens get back to work and save insurers money in the long term.

"So that's what the big real thing is. Do insurances want to really keep paying for people to sit around? I'm fighting, obviously, for this because I know that this is something that really does matter," Smart said.