This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
Published on June 14, 2020, a 70-year-old American man, Michael Flor, nearly lost his life to Covid-19 but was fortunate enough to recover after a 62-day hospital stay.
According to the Seattle Times, Flor was admitted to a hospital in the northwestern city on March 4 and was discharged on May 5. However, his recovery came with a hefty price tag - a 181-page bill totaling $1,122,501.04.
The breakdown of the bill includes $9,736 per day for the intensive care room, nearly $409,000 for its transformation into a sterile room for 42 days, $82,000 for the use of a ventilator for 29 days, and nearly $100,000 for two days when his prognosis was life-threatening.
As Flor is covered by Medicare, a government insurance programme for the elderly, he should not have to take out his wallet. However, he feels guilty knowing that taxpayers will bear much of the cost.
"It was a million bucks to save my life, and of course I'd say that's money well-spent... But I also know I might be the only one saying that," Flor was quoted as saying by the Seattle Times.
