That's just an average deductible, too. If the cost is $100,000,000, they could still say "effectively charge patients who go to the ER $1,000 or more.” and not be wrong.
It also doesn't include the cost of coverage. I have a healthy friend under 40 with a healthy family, and he pays $1200 every month, with a $1,500 deductible.
So, if you pay $18k per year, it might cost you $1,000 or $1,500, but that still doesn't tell us how much it costs for a person to go to the ER and get tested for Covid-19.
For an accurate assessment, they need to report the cost for an uninsured person, or report the total that's being billed to the insurance company.
Yes, a visit the ER will cost you. The point of the article is it has NOTHING to do with Covid-19.
Re:COVID-19 Tests Don’t Cost Over $3,000
by craftinator on Thursday March 05, 2020 @08:21AM
(#22493269)
And still they don't specify that the $1000 would be for the test...
“Jennifer Kates, the director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said in a phone interview, ‘there could be other costs incurred.’ Visits to the doctor’s office and the emergency room can cost patients money, she said, noting that some high-deductible insurance plans could effectively charge patients who go to the ER $1,000 or more.”