Wake woman suffers reaction to COVID vaccine, gets second jolt from surprise hospital bill
A Wake Forest woman who suffered an adverse reaction to a coronavirus vaccination was on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical expenses - until WRAL News started asking questions about her bills.
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Lori Marks received the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine at the drive-thru mass vaccination clinic outside PNC Arena in April. Minutes later, she said recently, she felt light-headed, and her blood pressure started falling.
“I remember sitting in the car. I was passing out, and I was starting to vomit," she said.
Marks was taken by ambulance to WakeMed North – and, much to her surprise, she later received medical bills totaling $3,000.
But she didn't get any support when she called WakeMed or Wake County.
“They basically said, 'It is what it is. You are going to be liable for the bills,'” she said. “Everybody is just saying, 'You are responsible for paying it.'”
Hospitals nationwide have received funding from the CARES Act to waive all hospital bills for coronavirus-related illnesses. But that funding doesn't extend to illnesses stemming from the vaccines.
Days after WRAL questioned WakeMed about Marks’ case, however, the hospital system and Wake Emergency Physicians waived more than $2,600 in her out-of-pocket expenses.
She is the only patient covered under that policy so far.
Marks also remains liable for the $374 Wake EMS bill for her ambulance ride to the hospital.
“I was advised and encouraged by EMS to go to the hospital because of their lack of knowledge of the reactions," she said.
“Our vaccine clinic staff make decisions out of an abundance of caution and an attempt to provide and promote safety," Wake County spokeswoman Stacy Beard said in a statement.
The CICP said it’s received 349 claims alleging coronavirus vaccine-related injuries. Marks' claim is among many that are still under review.
Marks said she plans to keep fighting the ambulance bill, but she is relieved her costs have come down.
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