US patient receives US$840,000 bill for COVID-19 treatment

A high school teacher from the US state of Colorado was stunned to receive a medical bill of US$840,000 for his treatment after contracting COVID-19, local media reported on Saturday.

The bill received by Robert Dennis, a Centennial High School teacher, covered Dennis' time at Denver's Sky Ridge hospital, where he was put on a ventilator in the intensive care unit for two weeks.

However, what was not included was Dennis' three weeks at Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, or his wife's trips to the emergency room when she was also fighting the virus. The couple estimated that their total bills would top one and a half million dollars.

The couple had insurance and they planned to call to make sure that they were covered.

"Seeing that number yesterday for the first bill, it took your breath away again," the wife said, "It's scary. I don't care how much you have covered. It's scary to see that kind of number and not really know."