When Erica Kahn reflects on a wild bat landing on her face, she realizes she made two significant mistakes.
Her first mistake was choosing to go without health insurance after being laid off from her job. The second mistake was screaming when the bat landed on her face during a vacation at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona last August.
Despite noticing bats flying around, Kahn didn’t think much of them until one got tangled between her camera and her face. The bat flew away, leaving Kahn shaken. Her father, a physician traveling with her, advised her to seek medical attention and begin rabies prevention treatment.
After receiving four doses of the rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin shots over two weeks at different facilities, the bills started rolling in.
The Medical Procedure
Rabies is a deadly disease transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals. Kahn received rabies prevention treatment to avoid the disease, which included four doses of the rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin shots.
The Final Bill
Explanation-of-benefits statements revealed that Kahn owed a total of $20,749 for her treatment, with most charges coming from the initial hospital visit at Flagstaff Medical Center.
The Billing Problem: Most Insurance Doesn’t Start Immediately
Kahn’s insurance policy did not cover any of the services she received. The policy had a waiting period that had not been met, resulting in the denial of her claims.
After realizing her mistake of forgoing health insurance, Kahn purchased a policy with a waiting period from a Florida company called Innovative Partners LP. Despite submitting appeals and negotiating some bills, she still faces outstanding medical expenses.
Experts suggest enrolling in individual insurance plans through federal or state marketplaces after losing employer-based coverage. COBRA insurance policies offer temporary coverage with a 60-day window to enroll and retroactive coverage.
Despite the financial burden, Kahn remains positive and finds humor in her unusual encounter with the bat. She advises others to prioritize health insurance to avoid similar situations.
Kahn’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of having health insurance and being aware of coverage options in times of need. Despite the unexpected expenses, she remains optimistic and encourages others to prioritize their health and financial well-being.
Bill of the Month is a crowdsourced investigation by KFF Health News and The Washington Post’s Well+Being that dissects and explains medical bills. If you have a confusing or outrageous medical bill you want to share, tell us about it!
