LisaMurphy
China pays for all testing and treatment fees, while other countries provide free treatment for their citizens or free testing.
The Chinese government pays the full cost of treating nCoV-infected patients. The country budgeted 110.48 billion yuan (15.6 billion US dollars) to pay for medical treatment, allowances for medical workers and procurement of medical equipment to deal with Covid-19.
South Korean health worker on March 10, took a test piece for workers at a building in Seoul, where 46 cases of nCoV were found. Photo: AFP
Each nCoV test in China costs about US $ 53, the average cost of treatment falls to US $ 806 for young people and US $ 3,309 for the elderly. Some expensive treatments are also free, such as oxygen exchange through the outer body membrane, used to support circulation and respiration when these two systems of the body are inactive.
The US does not charge for testing for nCoV in laboratories, but hospital treatment can cost more than $ 3,200. Lobbying group US insurance programs recommend that customers ask their insurance provider for coverage related to Covid-19.
Vice President Mike Pence, in a meeting with the CEO of insurance companies on March 10, said it would ensure that Americans are tested for nCoV and "costs will no longer be a barrier". Major US insurance companies agree to pay for remote treatment, Pence said.
South Korea announced in January that the government and insurance companies would pay for the costs of medical examination, isolation and treatment of nCoV-infected patients, including foreign patients. South Korea deployed many testing stations with the ability to receive 15,000 people a day, including many places that allow samples from people sitting in cars.
Japan announced Covid-19 as an infectious disease in February. The Japanese government will pay for inpatient bills up to Covid-19.
About 18,000 people in the UK have been tested for free since February and more than 370 of them tested positive for nCoV.
Singapore on March 7, 2016 applied the policy of medical treatment fee and free testing for nCoV-infected foreigners with short-term entry visas. Singapore citizens and long-term visa holders will be paid for treatment and testing by the government in public hospitals.
Covid-19 started in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Up to noon 11/3, Covid-19 appeared in 119 countries and territories with more than 119,000 cases, 4,300 deaths and more than 66,500 people have recovered. China, Italy, Iran and South Korea are the countries most heavily affected by Covid 19.
