The underserved Americans deserve better

Michael Flor, in his 70s, had a near miss with death due to COVID-19 infection. After 62 days of hospitalization, he was recovering well except for one moment when his heart almost failed the second time: The bill for COVID treatment came in 181 pages, totaling $1.1 million. Even when Flor was lying unconscious for most of the time on hospital bed, he had once waked up and whispered to his wife, “You gotta get me out of here; we can’t afford this.”

Flor is from Seattle and lives an American life. In the world’s largest economy, 39 percent of the population don’t have enough money on hand to cover a $400 emergency expense, and nine percent do not have health insurance. In a country with the most advanced medical resources, one in four people would give up treatment for serious illnesses due to high costs, and nearly one in three would cut medication or turn to non-prescription drugs.

Americans without insurance are straining to keep their heads above water amid the tsunami of COVID-19. Thanks to the Uninsured Program set up by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in 2020, the uninsured have been relieved from the financial burden of high medical bills, at least for a while. The federal government’s program has funded about $19 billion of COVID testing, treatment and inoculation for uninsured Americans since the beginning of the pandemic, and has supported US health care providers in conducting approximately half a million free tests every month. But the hope for a carefree life will be dashed as the pool will soon deplete without Congress’ further appropriation. Despite several “urgent requests” from the White House, a $15.6 billion plan to replenish COVID spending was dropped, which essentially calls for redirecting existing funds or looking for alternatives.

The big spender is suddenly tight with money when people’s lives and health are at stake. The White House had depicted a gloomy countdown: the US testing capacities would weaken in March, the Uninsured Program would dry up in April, and the government’s contracts with pharmaceuticals would not be renewed in May and June, meaning the supply of monoclonal antibodies would run out and vaccination fall short of target. The prophecies are being fulfilled. On March 17, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores wrote with deep concern to President Joe Biden and congressional leaders that about 14,000 testing sites in the US are in areas “with moderate to severe social vulnerability”, and that the expiration of congressional funding will result in “the tragedy of increasing disparities in access to critically needed care and patients forgoing care”. On April 6, the HRSA stopped receiving claims for COVID-related tests and treatment from uninsured patients as the program began to lapse.

“Dying is easy. Living is harder.” Americans who cannot afford any health insurance now have to choose between an easier death and costly living. According to Quest Diagnostics, Americans have to pay at least $100 for each molecular testing and even $195 for other types of COVID-19 tests. Hospitalized patients with mild symptoms have to spend $42,486 while those with complications may need to pay up to $74,310. One in seven Americans give up COVID treatment to save money for a post-COVID rainy day. Those who take their chances to get treated may end up in a courtroom if they are in arrears and have to pay court fee in addition.

Michael Flor is fortunate to have his sky-high bill covered by medical insurance. But many low-income groups and ethnic minorities fail to make it. After one million Americans lost their lives to the pandemic, more people are expected to see their lives hanging in the balance, as a more transmissible strain of the coronavirus is now wreaking havoc. But it is through figures and curves, not personal experiences, that decision-makers high on the Capitol Hill learn about the COVID-19 situation. When those men in suits knowingly take back the straw the underserved population are catching at, they will only be remembered as the accomplices of the virus, for both take away human lives.

The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Global Times, China Daily etc..

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.

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