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Everybody deserves to be healthy because being full of energy means leading a good life. However, health becomes a real issue if you have to pay your weight in gold whenever you need to go to the hospital.

When US Senator Bernie Sanders asked his Twitter followers what the most absurd medical bill they’ve ever received was, the floodgates opened. The stories were shocking, to say the least. So here is a compilation of the most ridiculous medical bills that Americans were presented with. Get ready for your jaw to drop and your eyes to pop because some of these are unbelievable. Upvote the bills you found the most shocking, leave us a comment and remember to share with your friends.

More info: BernieSanders.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

#1

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didderbops Report

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Isle_of_stressed_pilots
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a huge lump in my throat from reading the ones where babies die. I can't possible imagine what you went through

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#2

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Martha Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is a reality in many poor countries. The difference is that a rich country like the US could prevent things like this.

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Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That any country would afford this is beyond imagination. The loss in human capital far outweights any "socialist" effects (should such exist at all). The loss in societal welfare is yet another story.

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Kasia Gerkowicz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

btw. There was a patient at the ER- he was from Turkey (to explain- within EU you are cover by any insurance provided by other EU country for basic health care. You may pay initioaly but you get a refund). So he has- ultrasound and some blood and urine test done, painkillers given. He paid sth around 200PLN that is... 50 USD.

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Whatever...
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry the loss of your daughter. Beyond heartbreaking.

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Charlotte
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never understood how people are able to live with this much debt. I mean, I've heard stories of Americans who are well in their fifties when they finally pay off their student loans, so how do they cope with over a hundred grand in medical bills?

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MsBungle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my God! How this is not a crime?! I am sorry for your loss :(

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Pedro Botas
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its very strange to read this. Since I was a child and started watching cartoon network that I've always admired the United States. My dream trip is going to the USA with my family you know? Cruzing those green landscapes, visiting San Francisco, New York, going to Texas and Winsconsin. I love american cinema, music, games, authors like Edgar Alan Poe, genious like Tesla, I mean s**t Cow and Chicken changed my life, I still watch now and then and Im a 31 year adult! Reading this makes me feel disapointed.. that a nation I admire threats their own like this. We have free healthcare in Portugal, we also have donuts!

charlotteparis1982 avatar
Charlotte
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly the same here. I grew up thinking the US was the land where dreams were made. Hollywood, New York, the White House, blue Jeans, Marlboro. All the music, series, food and trends came from there. Now, I wouldn't want to live there if they paid me.

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C.S.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why ANYONE who think EVERYONE doesn't deserve to get healthcare should jump off this planet. "I'm sorry, you don't have enough money, you'll just have to die even though we have the means to save your life but require payment to save it."

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Id row
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And this will never change as long as insurance companies can throw millions at politicians. And politicians should not get top tier insurance with their job, they should fend for themselves like millions of us do. Watch how fast the system changes if that happened.

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How about getting back to being a democracy? Forbid lobbying and gerrymandering, and make it mandatory for every state to have every citizen registered to vote.

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Daniela-Iulia Balaciu
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think - regarding the whole article - that this is abuse. Ok, the doctors cost a lot to be specialised, the medicine cost a lot, the research, the treatment. But the top-most value has to be life. The people cannot accept this abuse, and the state has to support the welfare of its citizen. But how do you measure the welfare? By the money they have, or by how precious the life is?

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Fiona Allen-West
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once again people, socialized (small 's') Healthcare and Socialism (big 'S'), are two TOTALLY different things. Read a book about it (a good one), educate yourselves. The UK and Canada have socialized Healthcare, they are not Socialist countries and citizens there don't have to worry about choosing between feeding their children or paying medical Bill's. And we DO pay for it through at paysource taxation or monthly tax supported billing.

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Annette Rainbow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel your pain, even though I haven't lost a love one I almost did. You should move to Australia, hospital and ambulances are free here, even if you a visitor you get free care. I alone have 49 operations and my son has had 25 we both would be dead years ago, he at 10 (brain turour and other things from birth to many to tell) and me from cancer at age 29, (and so many other different operations). I am now waiting for my 50th operation. My prayers go out to you. NOBODY should have to bury their child, it is so heart wrenching. I hope you can learn to live your life with the pain it has caused you and your family. You never get over losing a loved one, it is even worse when it is your child. Please get help if you feel so depressed, your daughter would want you to live I am sure of that. I know I don't know you, and you have been dealt a cruel hand. You may or may not be religious but I will keep you in my prayers. Also move to Aus things are only going to get worse there. :(

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Marianne Eichhorn
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

America health system is nuts in all my life giving birth, having an operation, going to the e r, I probably did not spend more then a 100 dollars! I live in Israel...

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Desiré Yen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like that could easily happen in South Africa. Proper health care here is horrendously expensive 😣

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Desiré Yen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And good government health care is like finding a needle in a haystack. Or by the time it's your turn in the queue to see the doctors your already dead😔

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Dianne Guthrie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can America be seen as one of the world's superpowers when it's health system is akin to a third world country.

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Dianne Guthrie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This healthcare system is like that of a third world country, yet America thinks it's one of the worlds superpowers. How can it be? People from other Western countries are disgusted at the way they do so called healthcare.

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KCN
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AAAARRRGGHH I AM SO PISSED! DAMN INSURANCE AGENCIES, WE SHOULD GO STRAIGHT TO NATIONAL HEALTH CARE.

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Kaiholo Cross
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sorry! I'd say that her debt died with her, if she was an adult. No way I'd pay that!

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Carolyn O'Connor
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The US needs to cut the budget for the military, at least, in half, pull troops out of all of these European countries that get "free" health care and prescriptions. If they want to keep at it, let them do it themselves. The money can be used for the US to get "free" health care, etc........

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Catherine Todd
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me so angry I could spit. Hard to upvote this. And still the GOP bans universal health care. ANGRY!

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Jeremey Hustman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How long do you think she would have waited on a 'list' to see a doctor? That's the problem... Rationing of hospitals time. That's why people from countries with 'Socialized' medicine comes to America. They die waiting. Do you not think that people that are buddy buddy with people like Kamala Harris or Bernie Sanders would have to wait? I doubt it... They would be welcome to skip to the front of the line, while people waiting on the list, 6 months, a year, would die waiting for something simple, like a prescription for medication that is needed NOW. You want the same people that runs the DMV, or Vital Records running your healthcare? Socialized healthcare is a ridiculous proposal and many, many more people will die waiting. I don't believe this tweet by someone who calls themselves 'CapitalismKills'.

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J-A Laine
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just not right. Everybody have the right to medical care and medicine. You cannot put a price on a life!! ...except for in USA.

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Restless
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a bit confused. I thought all tax paying American citizens have access to health care, but it would seem the health care does not cover all the bills, is that correct?

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Random Panda
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They don't really have healthcare, they have insurance which they can pay for privately or is provided by their employer, with varying coverage. But since it's a business insurance companies do their best to avoid paying anything they can get away with. Meanwhile medical care is incredibly overpriced in the US, because capitalism.

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Miguel Denyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father died from a treatable disease at age 52, because socialized medicine couldn't afford to cover the cost of treatment. 18 years later, my mother died at age 63 from a similar treatable disease, because the same socialized medicine couldn't afford to treat her. My father had kidney cancer and was diagnosed with a "pea-sized" tumor on his right kidney... a simple nephrectomy would have saved him, but the UK national health system couldn't afford the operation. My mother had colon cancer - early stage, but the UK national health system couldn't afford to treat her in time to be effective. So, I'm glad I live in the US. Yes the health care system needs fixing over here, but think carefully before instituting "free healthcare for all" because it isn't free, and when the government diverts taxpayer funds to healthcare, remember that those same people are responsible for doing the same thing to fix our roads and other infrastructure. Socialized medicine kills!

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Lillukka79
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anecdotal evidense is not evidence. My 78 year old father has had his caroted arteries scraped, a dubble bypass, had his 3A fixed and cataract surgery in both eyes all in the last year. All in all, the cost for him was less than a 1000€ in basic doctor fees. But this story doesn't prove anything anymore than yours, I just know in the US he would have been dead since we're not rich.

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Some of these bills reached tens-of-thousands and even hundreds-of-thousands of bills. I’ll be honest with you, when I saw them I genuinely thought I was either seeing things or that somebody accidentally added a couple of extra zeroes.

#4

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Daniela-Iulia Balaciu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is anything in that country for free? Can you breath for free? Or... maybe you went for the stitches removal to an all inclusive 5stars resort?

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#5

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Andres Tejeda
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is a shame, I swear I think doctors request test just to run up the bill.

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#6

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Daniela-Iulia Balaciu
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If people have an word to say in that country, they have to change sòmething. It's very wrong. How it came to this situation I cannot imagine. The life itself has the rating below money.

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The harsh reality is that healthcare is incredibly expensive in the United States, and plenty of people always wonder: “Why?” Investopedia explains that healthcare in the US is “about twice as expensive as it is in any other developed country.” However, despite the cost, the US healthcare system is only the 37th in quality, according to the World Health Organization.

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#8

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Sterrinatu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hear ya. My bill for a UTI was $6,000. They didn't even diagnose me. I walked and told them what was wrong what antibiotic I needed. What am I paying $6,000 for?

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#9

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Iris Engler
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is it that a human life obviously has no value in this nation? How can America ever be "great" again, as long as this madness continues?

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Harvard economist David Cutler told Investopedia that the main reason why US healthcare costs are sky-high is this: “The administrative costs of running our healthcare system are astronomical. About one-quarter of healthcare cost is associated with administration, which is far higher than in any other country.”

#10

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Liza C
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had smth similar with a family member , 30.000 out of pocket , insurance ended up refunding us 7 thousand back after months of fighting, but that's insane

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#12

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What’s more, the cost of medical drugs in the United States is far higher than in other developed countries. Meanwhile, American doctors are afraid of litigation, so they practice what’s called ‘defensive medicine’ — they order lots of different tests even when they know what the diagnosis is.

#13

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Suzi Gauthier
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fight all bills. They know some people will just give up. I fought & they paid it. It may not work 100% of the time, but something like this definitely. Also, take the complaint to Facebook.

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#15

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Daniela-Iulia Balaciu
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aren"t the ER acțions/operation free of change? Or ER is considered as privat hospitals? You are not paying taxes in that country, to have state hospitals? Just wondering... anyway, strange medical system.

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What do you think of the US healthcare system, dear Pandas? Have you ever had any massive medical bills? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments.

#16

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Vesna
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The rule of thumb is that the docs HAVE to make sure you are stable, then the bill comes. This one sounds outrageous ........

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#17

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Vex Boxx
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The ambulances in the US are insane. I have flat out refused to get into one when necessary because I couldn't afford the bill. Asked my friend to take me to the hospital from the Urgent Care instead of the ambulance they had "called" for me. Luckily, she is no stranger to the US Healthcare Mafia.

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#18

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Gabi X.
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to pay €600, just to hear: oh you're not making eye contact with me, you're autistic. I was severely depressed and felt ashamed back then.

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#19

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Mia Cardenas
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pharmaceuticals are big business and could care less if your life is at risk because you cannot afford medications. Cost very little to make these treatments compared to the bill you get. They justify this on the bases of "research". This is another vile industry just like insurance. No compassion

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#20

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Andres Tejeda
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't you know there is a $900 speaking fee, plus $75 eye contact fee. Then another $25 just for walking in the door?

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#22

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Doober
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, if his best friend was married in a community property state, like California, their spouse would inherit and be responsible for that 2 million dollar debt. Really awful stuff.

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#23

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ASterling Report

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KT Trondsen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That doesn't sound right. EHS crews will always take you to the closest hospital in a life threatening emergency

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#24

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Daniela-Iulia Balaciu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you have to make a credit to afford a child? Or paying rates after the birth? That country is not right.

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#25

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Venic
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Going out-of-network without patient consent and later slamming them with the bill when insurance won't field it is a practice commonly called "balance billing" or "surprise billing". Some states have been taking measures against this. I expect I probably can't paste links, but there are a lot of various initiatives around the US to get laws passed to prevent this. Look for your state and the phrase "balance billing", and if yours has no protections in place, I strongly advise you help petition your lawmakers to rectify it.

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#26

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Daniela-Iulia Balaciu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a sick country. I am not reffering to peoples' health, but the medical system is sick.

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#27

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LOttawa
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who the hell has a $60k credit card??!? and will you be my friend...

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#28

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Mark Kelly
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My bro was rear ended here in Canada and had no bills and even received almost 10 grand

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#29

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Andres Tejeda
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm mean did the doctor make eye contact? that's already a$ 75 charge just for that.

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#30

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comboplush
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At this point, I do believe they just declare how many digits the bill should include and let a random number generator do the rest.

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