The Cost Of Being Unvaccinated Just Went Up -- Most Insurers Are Passing Costs Back To Patients As Co

[Fullduplexxx]

The Cost Of Being Unvaccinated Just Went Up — Most Insurers Are Passing Costs Back To Patients As Covid Hospitalizations Soar

With highly effective coronavirus vaccines available and hospital admissions soaring, many Covid-19 patients are facing bigger bills as most insurance companies have ended waivers on out-of-pocket costs that they introduced earlier in the pandemic, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a cost that will be primarily borne by the unvaccinated people more likely to require hospital treatment.

Of the two largest health plans in each state and Washington, D.C., nearly three-quarters (72%) are now passing out-of-pocket costs—including copays and payments towards deductibles—for Covid-19 treatment back to patients, KFF found.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/08/19/the-cost-of-being-unvaccinated-just-went-up---most-insurers-are-passing-costs-back-to-patients-as-covid-hospitalizations-soar/?sh=293c196ebd9a

[mucifer]

1. Hopefully those who can't get vaxxed for true health reasons can fight their insurance on this.

[mahina]

3. That was my first thought too. I know of two.

The hardheaded ones who think a tiny risk to them that comes with a big risk to others is a better idea than getting vaxed: good.

[rurallib]

4. And parents of kids under 12

[cstanleytech]

16. True but that number should be rather low as most people can

be vaccinated if they choose to get it.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. Good, next life insurance. Also long-haul COVID payments that Biden is talking about providing.

.



.

[AlexSFCA]

24. what are the "true" reasons an adult can't get vaxxed?

One needs a doctor’s note indicating that this patient should not be vaccinated against covid. Good luck finding a doctor who will ever sign a letter like that. You are either going to get vaccinated or get delta or both in some cases. To say that getting infected with delta is better than a covid shot, no matter what medical condition is, good luck finding a doctor signing off on that. Delta has changed the pandemic. The risk of delta will always be greater than a vaccine. Yes, some folks will need epi shot but that’s nothing compared to delta for those same people. The bigger issue are those people who don’t get immunity from the vaccine, of course, all still should get it since t cells can’t be easily measured (antibody is jusy one part of immunity).

[Zeitghost]

32. There are valid reason not to get a vaccine

"The risk of delta will always be greater than a vaccine. "

That is not what my 97 year old Great Grandmother's Dr. told us when advising us not to get her vaccinated. I'm curious as to what your medical background is? I'd love to compare them her Dr. so I can properly judge each piece of advice.

[mucifer]

41. Ummmm cancer. Your doctor might not want you vaxxed while you are in treatment. It's rare

but some people are allergic to certain vaccines. Some people can't get the flu shot.

[reACTIONary]

46. I'm not sure, it sounds like they are just....

.... reinstating the normal copays and deductibles that would have had to be paid before the pandemic. How would they fight that?

[Ms. Toad]

50. Exactly what they are doing -

as they should, now that vaccinations are available.

[Ms. Toad]

49. Not really.

COVID is now being treated like any other health condition.

My daughter has a chronic illness with billed expenses that amount to $200,000 every year.

She has to pay the full out-of-pocket maximum each and every year (ranging from $2,000 to $8500 - depending on the plan).

While I support a single-payer health plan, I do NOT support altering the current plan in a way that increases the premiums for my daughter (who hits her out-of-pocket max every year) in order to make life easier for those who never hit it. We/the insrance companies have been subsidizing COVID care from the beginnng - continuing to do so shifts the burden of COVID care onto people like my daughter who have not a once-in-lifetime high health care burden, but an every year burden.

Now that vaccines are available, people's health insurance should treat COVID care just like it treats any other health care: You pay your deductibel, copays, and out-of-pocket coinsurance until you hit your annual max. Just like my daughter has done (or we have done on her behalf) since she was 5 (she's now 30).

[SoCalDavidS]

2. I Never Thought I'd Applaud Health Insurers

Bravo! More of this please!

[PortTack]

5. Same!!

[IronLionZion]

8. They just don't want to pay for expensive hospitalization

when socialism offers a free vaccine paid for by taxes.

[ShazzieB]

17. And who can blame them? Not I.

[Iggo]

31. Even they know socialized medicine is better.

Especially they, I should say.

[Grins]

6. PRAYING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN!

Paying extra on your health care premiums because you refused the free preventive treatments available - your premiums go up ! A LOT! Double. Triple!!! When it hits them in their wallets - then the light will suddenly shine clear and bright.

The rest of us can’t afford their ignorance/negligence.

[former9thward]

22. Your prayers were not answered.

The costs are put on anyone, vax or not, seeking Covid treatment. The headline is misleading if you read the fine print.

[Zeitghost]

34. Exellent!

At least one other reader paid attention to the OP.

[usaf-vet]

40. Hard to read the entire story with a PAYWALL between.

[Ms. Toad]

51. The ACA prohibits increasing premiums.

All they are doing is treating COVID like any other illness.

If you have a deductible, you pay it. If you have coinsurance, you pay it, etc. Up to the annual out-of-pocket max.

[Ohioboy]

7. This is a good one for those that believe the "market" will naturally fix everything

[keithbvadu2]

9. 1+

[JohnnyRingo]

10. It makes sense to me that insurers would charge more.

I hate insurance companies, and this is their MO. They never lose money.

So... If I have to pay more for car insurance because how dangerous my car is, if I have to pay more for health care because my age makes me an expensive risk, of course those who get sick from a preventable virus would have to bear more of the burden for their willful ignorance. Simple business sense.

[liberalla]

11. I've been expecting this, and it's reasonable. IMO.

[progressoid]

12. Boot straps and self-reliance and what not.

[paleotn]

13. About damn time.

Insurance providers and insurers are getting hammered by the cost of human stupidity. About time they passed on the costs to those responsible.

[Zeitghost]

37. How

Are vaccinated people who get breakthrough infections responsible? Because this applies to them as well.

[paleotn]

42. Simple.

a cost that will be primarily borne by the unvaccinated people more likely to require hospital treatment.

The odds of vaccinated people ending up with waiver related charges is extremely small. Not impossible, but far, far less likely than those who are not vaccinated.

[highplainsdem]

14. Good. Now we need more news stories about this.

[Ford_Prefect]

15. Sounds like a sweet deal for DeSantis and his Major Sponsor...Talk about money laundering!

[Xipe Totec]

18. I've been anticipating this as a natural next step

Insurance companies don't like bad bets.

[former9thward]

20. The costs go on anyone, vax or not, seeking Covid treatment.

And most people requiring hospitalization are older and on Medicare.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

33. I'm pretty sure that's no longer true at this point in the Pandemic.

A very large percentage of older adults have now been vaccinated. And even for them the vaccine is highly effective at preventing hospitalization and deaths.

It's very much a pandemic of the unvaccinated at this point.

[former9thward]

39. The OP trys to imply unvax will pay more,

It is not true. The costs go on anyone seeking covid treatment.

[paleotn]

43. The unvaxxed are far, far more likely to require medical care related...

to the mentioned waivers than those who are vaccinated.

[former9thward]

44. Well that is not what the headline says.

[paleotn]

45. Do you just read headlines?

[former9thward]

47. Did you look at the replys in this thread?

Most people just read the headline. Maybe you should question all of them...

[BigmanPigman]

21. Good, their expensive "choice"

to not get vaxxed shouldn't be passed onto those who are insured and vaxxed. Actions have consequences.

[yaesu]

26. no, this is NOT good, it also means those who end up in the hospital after a breakthrough

infection will get their lives destroyed by greedy CEO's also.

[Hortensis]

28. Yes, but not to forget that insurance companies that participated

in the waiver program waived our deductibles etc during the pre-vaccine part of the national pandemic emergency. We now have vaccines and a way of not getting so sick we end up in a hospital.

Of course all costs were always "redistributed." All this medical care is hugely expensive. But now unvaccinated people at least will be paying their own coinsurance and deductibles, etc. I don't feel sorry for them.

[Tadpole Raisin]

23. Do we know if insurance companies have notified their

members with the standard letter ‘important information about changes with your health plan’?

I mean who looks at the details of their plan when you are heading to the ED? The deductible and copay could be huge. And I can’t imagine they will fully cover a med flight to an out of state hospital.

I hate insurance companies too but I love this!!!

[yaesu]

25. a reminder that cutthroat fascist CEO's couldn't care less about peoples lives, this will effect

Last edited Thu Aug 19, 2021, 06:58 PM - Edit history (1)

both vaccinated and the unvaccinated.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

30. This☝️

[area51]

48. +1 n/t

[usaf-vet]

27. NOW THIS SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE...UNLESS TFG promises to cover all costs.

SO all you unvaccinated people are you ready to pony up for all medical costs.

Don't forget the orange man's most popular trick is to throw people under the bus who are no longer of use to him.

[Zeitghost]

35. That is not what's happening.

All patients, vaxed and un-vaxed alike, will no longer be getting waivers on COVID related care. And nobody will be made to "pony up for all medical costs" related to COVID, you will just have to make your normal copays and deductibles.

[world wide wally]

29. About time!

[homegirl]

36. I called

this weeks ago.

[leftstreet]

38. I suspect a high percentage of anti-vaxers don't have insurance

Most people have insurance through their employer, and corporate mask/vax policies would have influence on vax rates

I'm guessing many, many anti-vaxers are on Medicare, Medicaid, or Obamacare. So none of these private insurer rules would apply

[Xolodno]

52. Not just health insurance....

...but life insurance as well. The Life Insurance companies took a big hit and even those companies who do life as a side business got whacked. Expect higher premiums all around.