Massachusetts Woman Faces Huge Medical Bills After Bat Incident

A woman from Massachusetts has found herself grappling with nearly $21,000 in medical expenses following an unusual incident during her vacation in Northern Arizona. Erica Kahn, 33, shared her experience last Friday, explaining how a bat unexpectedly flew into her mouth.

Kahn was taking pictures of the night sky at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area last August, just after losing her job as a biomedical engineer. She recounted how, while focused on her camera and the view below, a bat suddenly got tangled between her face and the camera.

“It was pretty dark out, and I didn’t really see it coming,” Kahn recalled. “I felt like it was just a few seconds, but it seemed to last much longer,” she said after a part of the bat entered her mouth.

Although rabies can be fatal if not treated promptly, effective vaccines are available. At her father’s urging, who happens to be a doctor, Kahn sought medical help. However, she had to first purchase private health insurance online, as she opted not to continue with her former employer’s COBRA plan, which cost $650 a month.

She reasoned that as a healthy woman in her early 30s, she might take the risk or quickly buy a new plan if necessary. After securing insurance, Kahn went on to receive rabies vaccinations in Arizona, Colorado, and Massachusetts, believing she was safe.

Things took a turn when the medical bills started coming in, totaling $20,749 due to a 30-day waiting period before her policy would cover such treatment. “I felt so powerless against these companies,” she expressed. “It should be a human right to have lifesaving care covered,” Kahn lamented, noting how different it is in many other countries.

Sabrina Corlette from Georgetown University pointed out that typically, insurance plans start on the first of the month after enrollment, which is a common practice to avoid issues with coverage for people waiting until they are sick.

Now back at work and insured, Kahn remains overwhelmed by the medical bills. Looking back, she acknowledges that securing private health insurance sooner could have mitigated this burden. “I should have done COBRA, even if it was expensive. But, you know, hindsight is 20/20,” she said.

As a result of this financial strain, Kahn anticipates fewer vacations and delays in home improvements, like getting air conditioning. She hopes her story can serve as a cautionary tale for others.

“It was my fault. I took the risk, and that’s on me,” she admitted. “If one person gets covered because they saw this story, then I would be happy about that.”