A Massachusetts woman battling cancer is making headlines for sharing her outrageous $34,927.23 hospital bill for Covid-19 treatment on Twitter.
If people are wondering "How much does COVID-19 Cost?!" Here is my bill. 3 ER Visits to get stabilized, oxygen, hydrated, and treat pneumonia. The COVID-19 Test was $907.00 !! I got excellent care, I am immunocompromised, but this will take a decade to pay off. #Covid#Co pic.twitter.com/n4ni9ZxeKx
— Danni Askini (@danniaskini) March 12, 2020
Earlier in March, Askini’s story picked up traction when she shared a copy of her itemized hospital bill.
“If people are wondering “How much does COVID-19 Cost?!” Here is my bill. 3 ER Visits to get stabilized, oxygen, hydrated, and treat pneumonia. The COVID-19 Test was $907.00 !! I got excellent care, I am immunocompromised, but this will take a decade to pay off,” she stated.
Many on Twitter were in disbelief and questioned the exuberant amount.
“This is criminal. The chest x-ray is one of the cheapest things on here!” one user stated.
This is criminal. The chest x-ray is one of the cheapest things on here!
— ???????????? KT Raschko (@frankncents) March 12, 2020
“Wow, this is criminal!” another wrote.
Wow, this is criminal!
— Nasty Woman ✊????✊????✊????✊????❤️???????????????? (@Welnesschick) March 12, 2020
Eventually, big publications picked up the story.
Last week, Askini tweeted a link to an article in TIME detailing her experience.
In the caption, she claims that she was stuck with a bill costing more than both her college degrees.
“So this story is about my experience with COVID and my final hospital bill: $34,927.23 – an amount that I will never be able to repay and more than I paid to get both my Bachelors and Masters degree,” she stated.
So this story is about my experience with COVID and my final hospital bill: $34,927.23 – an amount that I will never be able to repay and more than I paid to get both my Bachelors and Masters degree. @realDonaldTrump @ewarren @AyannaPressley please help! https://t.co/pJApXMPzcW
— Danni Askini (@danniaskini) March 20, 2020
The article describes how it took three emergency room visits before Askini was diagnosed and subsequently treated for the deadly disease. She was then stuck with the questionable bill which included COVID-19 testing. Although free testing for the virus is now covered under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, it does not retroactively cover testing for those like Askini who caught COVID-19 earlier. Additionally, treatment for COVID-19 is still not covered under the act.
On Twitter support continues to roll in.
I am hoping that there will be a retroactive debt forgiveness for you and everyone else in this position. Have you heard anything?
— BLM BEER FREEDOM (@brietcher) March 20, 2020
“I am hoping that there will be a retroactive debt forgiveness for you and everyone else in this position. Have you heard anything?” a user stated.
Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley replied and even offered her assistance.
.@danniaskini call my office and we’ll do whatever we can to help. 617-850-0040 No one should have to go through what you have ♥️
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 20, 2020
“Call my office and we’ll do whatever we can to help. 617-850-0040 No one should have to go through what you have,” she tweeted.
