The average cost of hospitalization due to COVID-19 in 2020 was $41,611, according to an analysis from the Petersen-Kaiser Family Foundation Health System Tracker published Nov. 14.
Patients with large employer health insurance in 2020, the last year data was available, paid an average of $1,280 out of pocket. The report's authors note that this may not reflect the average costs now, as most insurers no longer waive COVID-19-related medical costs, a common policy in 2020.
Inpatient costs for COVID-19 hospitalizations were much higher for patients admitted to intensive care units. The average cost for patients in ICUs was $65,569, compared to $26,952 for patients not in intensive care.
These ICU costs were also higher compared to patients admitted to the ICU who did not have COVID-19.
Read the full analysis here.