September 24, 2021
The CDC tell us that 60 million adults remain unvaccinated. The reasons vary. Some worry that the vaccine has not been sufficiently tested. Others are concerned about side effects. Some do not trust the government. Others simply do not want it. Hospitals tell us that 90% of the patients admitted to their emergency rooms are unvaccinated. Without the shot you are clearly at risk. If you get it, be prepared to accept the consequences.
It could be that if you get it you are one of the lucky ones who only suffers mild symptoms.
But many others will not be so fortunate and may end up in the hospital. If so, your hospital stay is likely to cost you $20,000 if you have insurance and far more if you do not. Your decision to remain unvaccinated is risky from a health standpoint, and from a financial standpoint.
Estimating the cost of your COVID-related hospital stay is difficult. It depends upon the length of your stay and your age. Did you end up in the ICU? Did you require a ventilator? Numerous studies have been done by respected organizations such as the Kaiser Family Foundation, FAIR Health, and Healthcare Finance News. They all have one thing in common. Under the best of circumstances, with insurance, you can expect to pay at least $20,000 if you end up in the hospital.
When COVID first began to spread last year and no vaccines were available, insurers felt an obligation to foot the entire bill and waived the entire amount. But with highly effective vaccines now widely available, insurers believe that COVID is “preventable” and they are not feeling so generous. Peterson-KFF recently surveyed 102 of the largest health plans and found that 73 are no longer waiving out-of-pocket costs for COVID treatment. Waivers for another 10 plan will expire by the end of October, and almost all of the remainder will expire by yearend. You are going to pay a large portion of the bill.
FAIR Health determined that in September the average amount charged for a general COVID hospitalization was $74,591. This is the undiscounted fee which an uninsured patient may have to pay. The average allowed amount was $33,525. This is the total amount paid by some combination of the health care plan and the patient. Because COVID has been deemed to be preventable you are going to be asked to pay a large amount of this bill. Most of those studies estimate your share at about $20,000 for a general COVID hospital stay.
If complications arise the comparable average amount charged climbs to $317,810. The average allowed amount becomes $98,139. In this case your payment will far exceed $20,000.
If you remain unvaccinated be aware that the Delta variant feeds almost exclusively on unvaccinated people. You are a prime target. You are potentially betting your life.
If your contract COVID you might be lucky and have minor symptoms. But you also might not be so fortunate. In that case your decision to remain unvaccinated will come with a substantial financial penalty as well. Are you willing to bet your family’s financial health?
A bad decision could cost you your life. If you are lucky and do not die it will cost you at least $20,000 if you end up in the hospital. Those are pretty high stakes and the odds are not in your favor.
A vaccine is free. You decide.
Stephen Slifer
NumberNomics
Charleston S.C.
In the fourth from the last paragraph it says “you are potentially bettering …” I’m sure that you meant to say “betting.”
In the third from the last paragraph it says “If your contract COVID your might …” I’m sure that you meant to say “you.”
Amen. Get the shot.
Great info that a lot of people don’t factor into their vaccination decision. As I approach my 25th year since starting medical school I realize more than ever how many health decisions patients make are actually driven by finances. One of the many problems with our health deliver system is no one including providers really knows these costs or how to accurately predict them with the many health insurers offering so many different insurance products without transparent consistent pricing. Add in a pandemic and its even more confusing. Thanks for adding clarity and i hope this helps people to choose the vaccine. Nothing in the history of medicine has been more effective than vaccines in preventing disease and the data on the the top 3 covid vacs in the US are overwhelmingly positive.
Hi Walter,
You are right on both counts.
In the end it was just lousy editing. I was racing to get out the door for a long weekend in Charlotte. Dinner reservations at 6:30. Had to get going!
In addition, the night before I sliced off the tip of the middle finger on my riight hand. Big ugly bandage. Typing was a challenge! I was handicapped!
I try to be fairly careful but this obviously was not a great week. And without the vaccine I would be “bettering” my life. Ouch! That one was really bad!
Best.
Steve
Hi John,
Thanks for sharing that information. I guess because my health insurance is fairly good and because I never pay too much I do not worry about it. But for someone whose health insurance is not so good, or someone who is uninsured, cost matters. When I finally get a bill and see the gross amount, the amount of the discount to the insurance company, and what I actually pay I am always astounded at the top line. I can distinctly remember asking what a surgery I had a number of years ago was going to cost the response was, “Don’t worry about it, insurance will pick it up.” That may have been true for me, but in the end SOMEBODY is always paying — me, the insurer, taxpayers. For someone who has to pay for that out of pocket, what you are saying makes perfect sense. They may not be able to afford it. Sad.
Steve
Steve