A Boston woman diagnosed with COVID-19 was slapped with a $34,927.43 medical bill, Time magazine reports.

Danni Askini, like 27 million other Americans, was uninsured when she first entered the hospital after doctors initially diagnosed with pneumonia and sent her home.

Over the next several days, Time reports, Askini saw her temperature spike and drop dangerously, and she developed a cough that gurgled because of all the liquid in her lungs.

After two more trips to the ER that week, Askini was given a final test on the seventh day of her illness, and once doctors helped manage her flu and pneumonia symptoms, they again sent her home to recover. She waited another three days for a lab to process her test, and at last she had a diagnosis: COVID-19.

A few days later, Askini got the bills for her testing and treatment: $34,927.43. “I was pretty sticker-shocked,” she says. “I personally don’t know anybody who has that kind of money.”

If people are wondering "How much does COVID-19 Cost?!" Here is my bill. 3 ER Visits to get stabilized, oxygen, hydrated, and treat pneumonia. The COVID-19 Test was $907.00 !! I got excellent care, I am immunocompromised, but this will take a decade to pay off. #Covid#Co pic.twitter.com/n4ni9ZxeKx — Danni Askini (@danniaskini) March 12, 2020

President Trump meanwhile has signed congressional measures ensuring free diagnostics testing.



