I remember hearing at the start of covid in March that if insured and end up in hospital, insurance

[LizBeth]

was to pick up covid bill. Later reading about bills coming in to people, I decided that didn't happen. The other day I was talking to a woman about not wanting to get sick because money out of pocket and she informed me that with insurance, I would not be responsible for the bill, insurance would pick it up. I do not really believe it.

Now my niece has it, mid 20's been going on for day and last night high fevers and she is concerned about hospital bill. She said she has crappy insurance, but she does have insurance.

Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks.

[Mike 03]

1. Yes, I was just looking at those stories the other day.

Trump administration says it will pay hospitals for treating uninsured covid-19 patients
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/trump-administration-says-it-will-pay-hospitals-for-treating-uninsured-covid-19-patients/2020/04/22/3df5fbb4-84b5-11ea-878a-86477a724bdb_story.html

The Trump administration confirmed Wednesday that the government will devote an unspecified amount of federal aid to help hospitals cope with the expense of treating covid-19 patients who are uninsured.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced the payments for patients without health coverage as part of several strands of funding the government will distribute from a federal relief package to hospitals and other health-care facilities and practitioners overwhelmed financially by the coronavirus pandemic.

I believe Azar was under oath when he said this.

Here's another:

Trump Administration Confirms It Will Pay Hospitals To Help Cover Costs Of Uninsured Coronavirus Patients
https://khn.org/morning-breakout/trump-administration-confirms-it-will-pay-hospitals-to-help-cover-costs-of-uninsured-coronavirus-patients/

I googled: "Azar Covid costs covered for uninsured"

Many stories come up. It really did happen. I remember being online at DU when he said this.

Edited to include more of the story.

[LizBeth]

2. Ah, thank you. I would like to ease her mind. I googled and will try to find info. I appreciate it.

[Mike 03]

3. I'm so sorry about your niece. I hope this affords her some comfort.

I can find more stories if it would help. I'll post a few more below.

[LizBeth]

6. Thanks. I will read. She is on the way to hospital now. Text a friend about her mother experience,

she died last week. And breathe... odds are in niece favor, hands down. Scary shit.

[Demsrule86]

23. That is what bankruptcy is for. It is not her fault.

[Ms. Toad]

4. She will be responsible for whatever her policy leaves uncovered.

So, if she has an out-of-pocket cap of $8500 - that will be her share (less whatever it has already paid for her this year).

(The government assistance is promised for the uninsured - not underinsured.)

[Mike 03]

5. More articles about this

Administration offers plan to cover COVID care for uninsured
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
April 22, 2020

https://apnews.com/article/2e42dbf0e5b52b144873417553a3c66b

HHS to use coronavirus relief funds to pay for care for uninsured
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/hhs-use-coronavirus-relief-funds-pay-care-uninsured

HHS Launches COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/04/27/hhs-launches-covid19-uninsured-program-portal.html

Trump administration to pay hospitals to treat uninsured COVID-19 patients
by Heather Landi | Apr 3, 2020 6:52pm

https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/hospitals-health-systems/trump-administration-to-pay-hospitals-to-treat-uninsured-covid-patients

[LizBeth]

7. Thank you. I will get on it.

[LizBeth]

9. Thanks. All uninsured, as a poster above says, not taking care of those underinsured. I appreciate.

[Mike 03]

8. Four more (because there's no such thing as *too much evidence*)

Government will cover uninsured patients' coronavirus treatment

https://www.axios.com/government-uninsured-coronavirus-treatment-4bb08407-0ccd-4815-b3ab-bb9ad826b7e3.html

Federal government will pay for COVID-19 treatment for uninsured, HHS secretary says
https://abc30.com/health-insurance-obamacare-uninsured-coronavirus-treatment/6074727/

Breaking: Trump administration will reimburse providers for treating uninsured Covid-19 patients
The Trump administration announced on Friday that it would reimburse providers at Medicare rates if they treat uninsured patients for Covid-19. HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the funds would be pulled from $100 billion allocated to hospitals as part of the recently-passed stimulus bill.

https://medcitynews.com/2020/04/breaking-trump-administration-will-reimburse-providers-for-treating-uninsured-covid-19-patients/

Hospital Stimulus Funds to Pay for Uninsured COVID-19 Treatment
Part of the $100 billion in hospital stimulus funds will go to paying providers Medicare rates for COVID-19 treatment for uninsured patients, the HHS Secretary said Friday.

https://revcycleintelligence.com/news/hospital-stimulus-funds-to-pay-for-uninsured-covid-19-treatment

[LizBeth]

10. She would be better off to say she doesn't have insurance.

[Mike 03]

11. I'll be thinking good thoughts for both of you, as I'm sure the other

DUers will.

Please keep us posted on how things go.

[LizBeth]

16. Well, so while gathering the info, she text to tell me she is off to the hospital for some oxy.

An hospital in Texas that is full of covid patients.

Mess.

And I text my friend to find out what kind of bills she received with her mom, that died last week, and we started talking about the first holidays with mom, learning to master the gravy, with her experience, and me remembering way back to the loss of my mom and learning the mac and cheese, and deviled eggs... Memories.

It is going to be a mess of holiday season for so many of us.

[Mike 03]

13. The thing I always worry about with this administration is that they lie.

But this was something that was stated under oath by the secretary the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and reported all over the country, so I think people are relying on it, and that because of how and when it was said, it carries some legal authority. Also, to my knowledge, no one from this administration has ever come out and refuted it.

[obamanut2012]

12. My insurance will pay everything but $100

I have cadillac insurance, but like any insurance, she'll have to ;pay anything her insurance won't cover. Because this country sucks.

[LizBeth]

17. +1. A twenty something healthy active college student isn't going to go Cadillac, for sure.

[obamanut2012]

26. I am really lucky my premium is quite low

Most paid by my employer, but some of my younger colleagues (in their 20s), take the "no cost" premium to save $75 a month, but then break a leg playing weekend soccer and have to pay thousands out of pocket. Until we have decent healthcare in this country, I always urge my younger coworkers they need to get better insurance.

tbh at their age I took the inexpensive route, too. I was young, fit, healthy, and had student loans to pay off.

[LizBeth]

27. +1

[Meowmee]

14. I am not sure

I had it in April with double pneumonia. I went to the field hospital first, and the regular er 4 weeks later with distress. I had the normal copays I would have for anything. I can’t remember if there was a copay for the field hospital. I also had numerous video visits with my doc which were covered with copays. The second time they did tons of tests and gave me fluids at the er. Fortunately I was never admitted. But she should go if she needs to, her ins will cover some of it at least.

[lettucebe]

15. Check her policy - it should state at which point coverage becomes 100%

If she doesn't know and you know the insurance company's name you should be able to look it up online, or call the number on her insurance card and ask. That is the number she needs to know. Crappy insurance generally caps coverage at lower levels.

[LizBeth]

18. Thanks people. We all know how insurance works, but covid so I went another direction. Lets see

how much the regular coverage is. The thing, all the extras, it always seems I am paying something here and there. Thanks. Deal with it later. It is what it is.

[Demsrule86]

19. Blue cross blue shield anthem is covering Covid 100% no copays or deductibles.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. I Was Going To Post The Same

Here's a link from BCBS.
https://www.bcbsil.com/covid-19/whats-covered

[LizBeth]

22. +1

[Demsrule86]

24. When hubs was laid off, we could have gone with a ACA or BCBS and we picked

that one. Hubs retired early, and we did get retiree insurance... not cheap but for the pandemic essential.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. I Did COBRA For 18 Months

And the first month was company paid. So, I got 19 months. All BCBS.
Now, I'm paying for myself for 11 months until I go 65. It's a Blue Cross 303 plan.
My wife, who's already Medicare eligible has a BCBS Advantage plan. That's what I'll get after 10 more months.
We have a really good agent so we're staying brand loyal.

[dsc]

30. but not for plans they merely administer

State employees here have insurance administered by BCBS but the state self insures.

[ProfessorGAC]

37. Good Catch!

I've been BCBS for a really long time, so I know little about the alternatives.

[LizBeth]

21. That is what I heard. Thank you, Old brain and I forget things. My insurance Kaiser sent me the same

info way back then. Yes, thanks. I forgot. so we need to see how crappy her insurance is, lol, I mean she is young. I always get solid insurance.

[Tink41]

28. I cant answer your question BUT

Some Hospitals have programs where they use a sliding scale based on income, poverty limits, and will subsidize your bill. Dont discount it, a family member recently had 80% after insurance picked up by this. They are nowhere near poverty, homeowner, but did fall into income limits at the time.

[LizBeth]

31. That is a good tidbit to know.

[Tink41]

34. From my experience

If a Hospital is religious affiliated it seems more likely help available. I know the institution they went to used to be, they did merge a couple yrs ago w another healthcare entity, so I'm not sure on those specifics now. It's not widely advertised of course. Do your digging!!

[LizBeth]

38. Starts with a B, so Baptist something but you know, they made the hospital into like an upscale

hotel to charge all that much more to pay for all their special in looks. Kinda pisses me off too. I do not know how generous they would be with the downtrodden.

[marie999]

29. If you are a veteran it doesn't matter what kind of insurance you have

you should also be in the VA healthcare system even if you don't want to use it. All you have to do is sign up for it and see your primary care doctor once a year and you stay covered.

[WyattKansas]

32. I hope people across America have been listing...

President Donald J. Trump & the Republican Party as those financially responsible parties for anything insurance does not cover when completing the hospital admission paperwork.

Umm... Yes, I would be an absolute dick about it and refuse to back down... I tend to get very nasty when intimidated.

[LizBeth]

33. I forget I am supposed to be intimidated. It really is a flaw and could get me in trouble since I am

cowardly with physical violence, lol.

[WyattKansas]

36. By nasty, I mean dump whatever intimidation they are throwing back in their laps, not violence.

Hospital: That won't work for financial party responsible.

Me: Oh, perhaps you would like to call your Hospital CEO and have them come here to explain to me why they would rather have camera footage and be on the Nightly News for refusing the Trump Administration's promises to the American People and/or throwing out an infected Covid patient onto the street to infect others? How much did your Hospital Group and Hospital CEO contribute to Donald Trump and Republicans anyway? Etc. etc.

[LizBeth]

39. +1, ya I get you were not talking violent. And ya... I hear you. Thanks.

[JCMach1]

35. My ACA provider seems to have covered almost everything

Of course you always wait for that surprise bill, but good 1 month out.

[LizBeth]

40. I said a week or so ago you were the one I may need to touch base with. Thanks for your experience.

I hate the damn surprise bills and they hit my credit and I nev3er knew I owed. I work hard raising my score and twice now they have dinged the credit score and I had no problem paying, like 84 friggin dollars.

[LizBeth]

41. Oh, and ACA, I am too. So this is good to know if I get it. I do not know what niece has though.

I love my ACA.

[JCMach1]

42. Me too with the exception of testing on my policy.

100% on prescriptions... Silver plan here in TX I think. PM if you need the company (if ACA exists next year)

[LizBeth]

43. I always went silver but 2020 I went bronze because I had to up my dental. Lol. I didn't know we

would end up with a pandemic. So I am not allowed to get sick in 2020, I have to wait for 2021 when I increase to silver again. I have tried three different ones in Oregon and now sitting with Kaiser. I am thinking I am going to really like Kaiser. I like the way they do things. I was iffy at first, but seems very well run.