Prognosis
Sexual-Assault Survivors Pay Average $3,551 for Emergency Care, Study Says
- Bills can top $4,500 despite law lowering victims’ costs
- Related treatments for injuries or diseases aren’t regulated
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Sexual assault and rape victims seeking care in US emergency rooms face costly medical bills, in spite of a federal law meant to defray these types of expenses.
On average, survivors of sexual assault saw emergency bills of $3,551, according to a study published Wednesday by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Hunter College. Charges were even higher for uninsured patients or pregnant survivors, who saw bills average $4,553.