Out-of-pocket spending for health care after COVID-19 hospitalization.
Am J Manag Care
; 28(8): 398-402, 2022 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2067691
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Many patients report financial stress following hospitalization for COVID-19. Although many COVID-19 survivors require extensive care after discharge, the degree to which this care contributes to financial stress is unclear. Using national data, we assessed out-of-pocket spending during the 180 days after discharge among patients hospitalized for COVID-19. STUDYDESIGN:
Retrospective cohort analysis of Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart, a national database of medical and pharmacy claims.METHODS:
Among privately insured and Medicare Advantage patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between March and June 2020, we calculated median out-of-pocket spending during the 180 days after discharge. For comparison, we repeated this calculation among patients hospitalized for pneumonia.RESULTS:
Of 7932 patients with COVID-19 included in analyses, 2061 (26.0%) had private insurance. Among privately insured and Medicare Advantage patients, median (25th-75th percentile) out-of-pocket spending after discharge was $287 ($59-$842) and $271 ($63-$783), respectively. Out-of-pocket spending exceeded $2000 for 10.9% and 9.3% of these patients, respectively. Among privately insured and Medicare Advantage patients hospitalized for pneumonia, median (25th-75th percentile) out-of-pocket spending after discharge was $276 ($62-$836) and $570 ($181-$1466). Out-of-pocket spending exceeded $2000 for 12.1% and 17.2% of these patients, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:
For most patients hospitalized for COVID-19, postdischarge care may not be a major source of financial stress. Although this is reassuring, our findings also suggest that a sizable minority of COVID-19 survivors have substantial out-of-pocket spending after discharge. These survivors could be particularly vulnerable to financial toxicity if they also receive bills for the hospitalization owing to the expiration of insurer cost-sharing waivers. Insurers should consider this possibility when deciding whether to reinstate cost-sharing waivers for COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Variants
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Manag Care
Journal subject:
Health Services
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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