Experts say that survivors of sexual violence often face overwhelming medical expenses when seeking urgent care, a factor that may prevent many from seeking treatment.
According to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, survivors of sexual violence were charged an average of nearly $4,000 in medical expenses after seeking emergency care after an attack.
In the United States, only one in five victims of sexual violence seek medical care. The authors of the study concluded that medical bills may prevent victims from seeking treatment.
People without health insurance pay an average of $3,673 out of their pocket, while those with insurance still pay about 14% of the total bill, an average of $497.
Pregnant women who have been sexually assaulted and seek emergency medical care have the highest medical treatment costs, with an average of $4,553.
Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the Hunter School of CUNY and Dr. Stephanie Woolhandler, Harvard Medical School, Medical Lecturer, Research Author told ABC News that when we charge people with huge medical expenses, we stop them from seeking health care. .
Montana Family Planning Healthcare Policy Researcher and Primary Care Doctor Research Author Dr. Samuel Dickman said I saw a rape victim telling me she didn’t go to the emergency room because she knew she couldn’t afford it.
Dickman told ABC News: "I have seen patients, they describe to me the feeling that they have no support from the health care system at all. They know that after being attacked, they cannot get affordable care. For many survivors, it feels like adding an additional layer of trauma."
Woolhandler says people should seek financial assistance when seeking treatment in the emergency room.
She said that depending on your income, you may be eligible for financial aid and you often have to ask for financial aid. Another tip from Woolhandler is that “veterans check if they are eligible for care at Veterans Administration Hospital because the co-payment and deductibles for this care are very low.”
In this post-Roy era, women are protected even less by the health care system when they are sexually assaulted. As of September 2022, 11 states have banned abortions, including pregnancy abortions caused by rape.
"According to the law, rape survivors need to prove that they have access to health care to qualify for an abortion waiver. This means that you ask survivors to go to the emergency room and could incur thousands of medical debts to get an abortion. It's totally inhumane," Dickman said.
Dickman said we need to reform the Violent Against Women Act to fully cover health care, not just forensic examinations.
The Violent Against Women Act is a federal law that collects evidence but holds people accountable for additional bills related to emergency care after an attack. Expanding provisions of the Violent Violence Against Women Act to include payments for other services, rather than just collecting evidence, can help survivors avoid financial difficulties and further trauma. Sadly, our political system continues to live up to survivors of rape and sexual assault.
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