In the past two months preventable COVID hospitalizations cost NY companies more than $2 billion

Rochester, New York – In less than a two months, insurance companies will again require copays for Coronavirus hospital stays and testing.

Early on in the pandemic, insurers limited out-of-pocket expenses for anyone diagnosed and hospitalized with COVID through cost-sharing waivers, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“More recently, as COVID vaccines have become available, and at no cost to people, the environment has sort of shifted,” said Krutika Amin.

By fall, the majority will again pass along some of those expenses, according to the Associate Director of KFF.

“Insurance companies are phasing out the cost-sharing waiver regardless of people’s vaccination status,” said Amin.

Tests are not covered if you’re getting them as an alternative to the vaccine.

The expense is so great, some companies like Delta Air Lines are preemptively charging unvaccinated employees more.

“Insurers and health plans are not allowed to charge people a higher amount if they’re unvaccinated – but, employers may impose a higher cost to people if they’re unvaccinated,” said Amin.