Overview

• In August 2024, a bat flew into Erica Kahn’s mouth during an astrophotography session at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, prompting her to start a two-week rabies immunization series across clinics in Arizona, Colorado and Massachusetts.
• The private health plan Kahn purchased before treatment carried a 30-day waiting period and denied her claims, leaving her with a $20,749 bill for four vaccine doses and three immunoglobulin shots.
• After negotiating modest reductions with some providers and securing new employment with health benefits, Kahn is appealing her insurer’s denials and setting up payment plans to manage the remaining debt.
• Kahn’s GoFundMe campaign, which aims to raise $12,000 and donate half to UNICEF, has collected nearly $1,000 to date and spotlights gaps in U.S. employment-linked coverage.
• Her case underscores broader vulnerabilities in tying health insurance to employment and the risks imposed by waiting periods on life-saving medical care.