70-year-old US man beats COVID-19, gets $1.1 million hospital bill

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, June 14

A 70-year-old Seattle man who nearly died of COVID-19 has been billed a heart-stopping $1.1 million for his hospital expenses, the Seattle Times reported on Saturday

Michael Flor, known as the longest-hospitalised Covid-19 patient, has now been dubbed as million-dollar baby. He was admitted on March 4, and stayed for 62 days.

A night-shift nurse was sympathetic and held a phone to his ear while his wife and children bid him goodbye.

But Flor survived.

His recovery prompted those around him to call him the miracle child. He was discharged on May 5—only to receive a 181-page bill totaling $1,122,501.04, he told the newspaper.

That 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.

Flor is covered by Medicare, a government insurance program for the elderly, and should not have to take out his wallet, according to the Times.

"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," the Times quoted him as saying.