Survivors of the Pulse massacre in Orlando will not have to pay for their hospital bills – some of which run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
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It has emerged Orlando Health and Florida Hospital will not bill the survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre. The families of nine people who died after arriving at Orlando Regional Medical Center will also not be billed. The Orlando Regional Medical Center treated 44 of the victims from the atrocity in June.
Victims who were treated at Florida Hospital, which treated 12 people after the attack will not be billed even if they have medical insurance.
In total it is estimated that the hospitals could forgo $5.5million in medical billings.
Forty-nine people died when a shooter entered the gay nightclub and opened fire in what was to become America’s worst mass shooting. Fifty-three people were wounded.
Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong said,
“The pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families and our entire community,
“During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward.”
Survivors have welcomed the news as many of their healthcare bills ran into the tens of thousands with one victim facing a bill of $20,000 for a seven-hour treatment.
