A Florida family received a claims summary from a hospital totaling more than $1 million over a relative who died from the novel coronavirus.
A picture of the claims summary was posted to an Instagram account June 28. The account holder, workshoppgh, wrote a lengthy post about the $1,123,600 bill and said: "No one should have to face this virus alone and make it out to get bills like this."
"I am posting this hoping it will encourage folks to wear a mask," the Instagram user wrote. "This is a real insurance claim statement (not final bill) for four weeks of Covid in the hospital I just got today for my fully insured uncle that we lost."
"Over one million dollars for one person. Insurance paid $100,000 of it –10%. Mind you, they may accept insurance and clear this balance, but even so these numbers are insane," the user said, adding that their deceased family member had both Medicare and private insurance.
The user then asked the public if there was anyone else who received a $1 million bill while being uninsured after spending four weeks on a hospital ventilator, as many COVID-19 patients often do.
"In what world would a hospital value services at these rates," the user wrote.
According to the Health Resources and Services Administrations, uninsured individuals should have their medical costs taken care of as part of provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The HRSA stated on its website that as part of these bills, which were passed to help fight the novel coronavirus pandemic, "the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide claims reimbursement to health care providers generally at Medicare rates for testing uninsured individuals for COVID-19 and treating uninsured individuals with a COVID-19 diagnosis."
The Instagrammer said that over $460,000 was charged for using the pharmacy, which they stated cost "more than the actual hospital stay."
"This all just demonstrates a broken system in need of reform. We won't have to settle a final bill this high but it's still terrifying to get a statement like this," the Instagram user said.
The person also went on to advocate for Medicare for All, something progressive Democrats would like to see implemented so that Americans would no longer have to pay for health insurance.
"There are limited ways for me to be an activist about this and be heard, [or] fight for change on how the virus is being ignored by many... but I'll continue to fight how I can, write letters and share our family's story to hopefully get more people to at least wear masks and possibly see a day with healthcare for all," the Instagram user wrote.
Newsweek reached out to workshoppgh for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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