COVID treatment costs range from $17k to more than $93k, depending on a patient's age
Living in the West and over the age of 70? Prepare to pay big for COVID treatment.
A recent study by FAIR Health analyzing the cost of hospitalizing COVID-19 patients by age, geographic region and coexisting medical conditions showed that treatment for younger patients was somewhat lower than for older ones, while in some areas — particularly the Western states — costs fluctuated widely, rising sharply for older patients.
The study analyzed private health care claims data from January through May, revealing that on a national level the median amount charged for treating a COVID-19 patient ranged from $34,662 for patients aged 23 to 30, and $45,683 for those aged 51 to 60.
Related: A COVID-19 vaccine could cost Americans dearly
According to the report’s authors, while there is “no one profile” of COVID-19 patients, there are some notable commonalities, and “profiles of COVID-19 patients have many potential applications, including determining risk factors that make some patients more vulnerable, influencing treatment protocols, setting priorities for eventual vaccination distribution, inspiring further research, and planning and budgeting for use of health care resources.”
The median estimated allowed costs ranged from $17,094 for patients over the age of 70 to $24,012 for those aged 51 to 60.
In Western states, median amounts charged for treatment ranged from $21,407 for patients aged 19 to 22, and soared to $93,459 for those 70 and over. The median estimated allowed amounts in the West ranged from $15,289 for the 19-22 age group, and $60,205 for the 70 and over cohort.
On a national level, males accounted for more COVID-19 claims with 54%, while females accounted for 46 percent. Most of the total claims, 29.9 percent, were among patients aged 51 to 60. The smallest percentage, 1.5 percent, was among children 18 and younger, although the report noted that the average age of new patients has reportedly dropped in recent months.
The report said that in the Southern, Midwestern and Western states, age groups from 19 to 30 and 31 to 40 represented a larger share of claim lines than for the Northeastern states and nationally.
Rural and urban areas reported roughly similar claims lines: Among the largest age group reprinted, patients 51 to 60, rural claims were at 30.2% while 30.3% were from urban areas.
Across the nation, most COVID-19 patients, 33.3%, first presented to a health care provider’s office while 23% went to an in-patient facility.
But patients older than 61 were more likely to go to an in-patient facility first.
In the Northeast, patients were somewhat more likely to receive an initial diagnosis of COVID-19 via telehealth than at an emergency room, by 6.7% to 6.2%.
Across the country chronic kidney disease and kidney failures were the most common comorbidities, present in 13 percent of all hospitalized patients, according to the data. The second most common existing condition in most areas was type 2 diabetes, but in the Southern states it was hypertension.
The report said obesity was not among the 10 most common comorbidities for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but noted that is “frequently associated with type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea, the most common sleep disorder.”
The study is the fourth in a series of FAIR Health reports analyzing private health care claims to gauge the impact of COVID-19. The first projected the costs of in-patient admissions for patients and potential use of telehealth treatment; the second analyzed the pandemic’s impact on hospitals and health systems, and the third examined its impact on non-facility providers and professionals.
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