According to a new KFF analysis, patients with coronaviruses who end up hospitalized (the vast majority of whom are not vaccinated) are increasingly stuck to their medical bills.
Where is it: At the start of the pandemic, most insurers waived the costs of their pocket for coronavirus hospitalizations.
- But with readily available vaccines, many patients are getting deductibles and copayments again, which could make the vaccine more expensive.
By numbers: KFF surveyed the two largest insurers in each state and district of Columbia and found that 72% of them had stopped waiving cost-sharing requirements for coronavirus treatment as of this month.
- During the first half of the year, approximately one-third of employers offering health benefits said their largest available plan waived cost-sharing obligations for COVID treatment.
Between lines: The typical deductible in an employer health plan is $ 1,644 per KFF, and hospitalization for coronavirus treatment can amount to about $ 1,300 in out-of-pocket expenses.
What we are seeing: Vaccinated people rarely need to be hospitalized, even if they have the virus, at least according to data published so far.
- Even if that changes, part of the reason insurers initially waived the costs of out-of-pocket treatment was because they paid less than they expected in medical claims.
- Unless people stop looking for attention once again as they did in the spring of 2020, it seems unlikely that insurers will reverse course.