A larger number of claim lines were also observed among males at 54%, compared to 46% of females, nationally. Children (patients between 0 and 18) accounted for the smallest share of claim lines at 1.5%. In addition, the study examined comorbidities, finding chronic kidney disease and kidney failure to be the most common among COVID-19 hospitalized patients at 13% between January and May. Type 2 diabetes was the second most common everywhere except the South where hypertension ranked higher.

These discrepancies according to Gelburd demonstrate the importance of profiles for COVID-19 patients and the potential applications they offer, such as risk determination, feedback for treatment protocols, setting priorities for eventual vaccination distribution, further research, and planning and budgeting around the use of healthcare resources. She adds that guidance on obtaining the most optimal care must be available to patients and providers throughout the pandemic.


“We offer a Quality Toolkit on our consumer website, www.fairhealthconsumer.org, that provides consumers with certain guidance about how to seek out quality information,” she said. “We also encourage all healthcare stakeholders to work together and offer transparency as needed to advance public health during this difficult time.”

The report is the fourth one conducted by FAIR Health on COVID-19.

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