Thread by @NBCNews

An untold number of Americans are grappling with the mysterious effects of what has become known as long Covid. Their concerns now go beyond health as they try — and fail — to get financial assistance, an @NBCNews investigation finds. #NBCNewsThreads (1/9) nbcnews.com/investigations…

An estimated seven to 23 million Americans have experienced “long Covid,” a catch-all term for roughly 200 symptoms ranging from memory issues to chest pain to dizziness upon standing. (2/9)

Latesha Holloman, a 38-year-old mother of five daughters has experienced chest pain, headaches, fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath since she contracted Covid-19 while working at the front desk of a health care company in Virginia. (3/9)

Holloman has been unable to work for over a year. She has applied for workers' compensation, private short-term disability insurance, and unemployment insurance — and was denied at each turn, she says. (4/9)

“It really shattered me, and I did fall into depression over it,” said Holloman. “And still, I’m hurt and angry. I just don’t understand why I cannot get compensated for losing income from getting Covid.” (5/9)

Three dozen people across government agencies, medical fields, and disability law practices revealed that large numbers of Americans are trying — and failing — to get financial assistance as they battle lingering Covid symptoms. (6/9)

Corey Sexton first applied for social security in June 2020 after spending 57 days in the hospital with Covid, including 3 weeks on a ventilator, and receiving a tracheotomy. His claim has already been denied three times, most recently by a federal administrative law judge. (7/9)

In recent months, medical experts and patients have been trying to sound the alarm that more needs to be done to help people with long Covid.
But so far, efforts to prompt government action have largely gone unanswered. (8/9)

“The system is gearing itself against individuals with long Covid,” says Dr. David Putrino. “And that makes them sicker and sicker over time … causing them so much stress and exertion as they’re trying to get care that it actually makes the condition worse.” (9/9)