HealthDay reporter
FRIDAY, Sept. 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 care is likely to become more expensive for Americans as insurance companies’ temporary waivers on costs associated with treating the disease expire.
earlier in pandemic, patients did not have their normal joint payments or discount (discounts for emergency room visits or hospital stays for COVID-19, and most tests were also free, New York times mentioned.
As the pandemic continues to spread across the country, federal law still requires insurance companies to cover tests at no cost to patients when they have a medical reason to seek care, such as being sick or displaying symptoms.
However, more of the tests Americans are looking for now are for monitoring and not considered a medical cause, the times mentioned.
For example, federal rules are free Corona Virus Tests have exemptions for routine tests in the workplace and school.
Some patients have already received bills of up to $200 for routine checkups, according to patient documents submitted to a times A project to track the costs of COVID-19 testing and treatment.
However, “Insurance companies are faced with the question of whether the costs of COVID treatment should be borne by everyone, or individuals who have chosen not to have it. SerumCynthia Cox, vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation who has researched how insurers cover COVID-19 treatment, told times.
COVID patients are likely to face some of the highest bills and need intensive hospital care, and most of these patients are now unvaccinated. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found that 72% of large health plans no longer make COVID-19 treatment free for patients.
People who are not immunized may also face other increased costs. Delta Air Lines and some other companies plan to impose higher rates on insurance for unvaccinated workers, indicating higher hospitalization costs for COVID-19, times mentioned.
Research shows that the average hospitalization cost for COVID-19 is about $40,000, while a longer stay that includes time in an intensive care unit or air ambulance transport can cost many times over.
more information
Visit the US Department of Health Resources and Services to learn more Costs of COVID treatment and relief testing.
Source: New York times