COVID Medical Bills Are About to Get Bigger

[daisylu]

Get ready to start paying for "convenience" testing:


Americans will most likely pay significantly more for COVID medical care during this new wave of cases — whether that is a routine coronavirus test or a lengthy hospitalization.



Earlier in the pandemic, most major health insurers voluntarily waived costs associated with a COVID treatment. Patients did not have to pay their normal copayments or deductibles for emergency room visits or hospital stays.

The landscape has since changed, as the pandemic persists into its second year. Federal law still requires insurers to cover testing at no cost to the patient when there is a medical reason for seeking care, such as exposure to the disease or a display of symptoms. But more of the tests sought now do not meet the definition of “medical reason” and are instead for monitoring.

“Insurers are confronting the question about whether the costs of COVID treatment should fall on everyone, or just the individuals who have chosen not to get a vaccine,” said Cynthia Cox, a vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation who has researched how insurers are covering COVID treatment.



The federal rules that make coronavirus testing free include exemptions for routine workplace and school testing, which has become more common as students head back to the classroom and as companies mandate regular testing for unvaccinated workers.



Because insurers are not required to cover that regular testing, some patients have already received testing bills as high as $200 for routine screenings, according to documents that patients have submitted to a New York Times project tracking the costs of COVID testing and treatment.

Some of the highest bills, however, will probably involve COVID patients who need extensive hospital care now that most insurers no longer fully cover those bills. Seventy-two percent of large health plans are no longer making COVID treatment free for patients, a recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation found.



This includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, the largest health plan in a state experiencing one of the country’s worst outbreaks. On Wednesday, Florida Blue began requiring patients to pay their normal deductibles and copayments for COVID treatment. Toni Woods, a spokeswoman, said the plan was now focused on encouraging vaccinations.

The new policies generally apply to all patients, including the vaccinated; people who get sick with a breakthrough infection; and children under 12, who are not yet eligible for the vaccine.



“If you have a small kid who gets COVID at school and ends up at the ICU, that family is going to now be stuck with the bill even though that patient did not have the ability to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan who researches COVID care costs.

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[daisylu]

The new policies generally apply to all patients, including the vaccinated; people who get sick with a breakthrough infection; and children under 12, who are not yet eligible for the vaccine.







“If you have a small kid who gets COVID at school and ends up at the ICU, that family is going to now be stuck with the bill even though that patient did not have the ability to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan who researches COVID care costs.

I could see bankruptcies going sky high.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Everyone had to know this was coming.  Insurance companies don't make money paying out claims.

[NoNamePerson]

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise. In my best Gomer Pyle voice. 

[Artemis Windsong]

I had a bad head/chest cold that I have complained about. To rule out Covid I got tested even with no known exposure. I had to see the medical doctor. I will probably have to pay something.

[daisylu]

Sept 3, 2021 14:11:51 GMT -5 Artemis Windsong said:

I had a bad head/chest cold that I have complained about. To rule out Covid I got tested even with no known exposure. I had to see the medical doctor. I will probably have to pay something.

Maybe, maybe not. It is insurer specific, and some are still not charging if you have been exposed or show symptoms. Many of them are going after the testing for monitoring, travel, etc.

And the costs are going into effect for both vaccinated and unvaccinated.