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30 Times Americans Shocked The Rest Of The World By Sharing Their Outrageous Medical Bills
Living in the United States has a lot of perks, from the incredibly friendly people and astounding nature to the universities and the great job opportunities. However, one of the biggest drawbacks that Americans have to deal with is the healthcare system. More specifically, just how expensive going to the hospital can get, whether you have health insurance or not. Things can get so ridiculous the entire system starts to look very dystopian.
To show you what we mean, the Bored Panda team has collected this list of the most mind-blowingly expensive hospital bills that Americans have shared online. The prices are, well, they’re ridiculous, to say the least! If these photos won’t get your jaw to drop, then practically nothing will.
Time and again we’ve analyzed why the system is so cumbersome, inefficient, and actually forces a lot of people to consider not going to the hospital whatsoever because of the huge medical debts they’re likely to accrue.
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Avoid Paying Costly Medical Bills By Dying Instead
How awful, when you feel relieved that someone just died instead of running up a huge bill.
So This Is Crazy
Wtf? People must be wishing that they hadn’t survived. Cost in UK £0 , nothing, zilch. We don’t pay so much in tax that it makes this look like a more attractive alternative.
Hospital Billing To Hold Your Own Child After Birth
Just waiting for the day US hospitals start charging for the air that the patients breathe... 😳
The simple fact of the matter is that the healthcare system in the United States is incredibly wasteful. As reported by The New York Times in 2019, at least 760 billion dollars are wasted each and every year due to the poor management of funds.
My Cousins Child Birth Bill From The Hospital In The USA. Never Seen Anything This High
What the actual h**l is wrong with the States?!? You could buy a House for the cost of Room and Care!
Yeah, my first thought was "did they BUY the friggin' hospital room?"
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Room and care is how much ?! Did they stay until the kid got married ?
Room and Care look kind of expensive, could have given birth in The Dorchester for less than that.
insurance should be illegal... why doesn't the gov't just force everyone to save a little bit of what they earn in a savings account?
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There has to be more to this story than what's listed sine the child was in the hospital for a month.
I saw a post telling you have to ask the hospital to give an itemized bill. The person who wrote it did it and the bill decreased enormously !
Rent a high class hotel and a private nurse... 1/50th of the price and the room is WAY nicer!
I am very lucky, my company is ran with the european model (in America) and we have great insurance. I don't have to pay for it and prepping for my labor and delivery, the insurance is covering everything. If I have anything outside of that, the copay is only 200
This looks suspicious to me for a child birth. So I am calling shenanigans on this. The insurance payments also look suspicious too. One small piece of advice too, is not to pay any medical bill quickly. My mother was billed 1200 for ambulance to emergency room, then next month it was 800, then the next month was 400, and finally the total charge just by waiting to pay was 184.00. Even if you get a demand for payment, just wait until you see that you have received the final bill when the payment does not change
Well we don't have all the information why this bill was so large. It could be that the insurance has not paid them yet which will certainly lower the over all bill as insurance has contracted pricing. So while utterly shocking, we only see a small portion of the overall picture
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who even has so much money ? That's more than I will likely ever make in my life.
This is what I think of when I see all those teen mom shows. How are teens and their family able to afford this and not freak out about going to the hospital?
I admit the states medical system is the pits but as a Canadian we don't pay for health care. A lot of our doctors trained here go there because of the money. Our Doctors I'm not saying all but they can make extra money by charging whatever they want for things other doctors do not charge for example a patient need a reorder on a med. she was charged $35. to have Dr. fax a reorder to a pharmacy in her building. this Dr. is notorious for this sort of thing!
Half a million dollars for the room, a hundred bucks for therapy. Ffs.
There it is: KAISER! It's all his fault, he asked Nixon to make health insurance profitable. Prior to Nixon's presidency, US Health Insurance was non-profit. We are screwed forever due to these two men.
Looks like there may have been some complications, but none the less, here are the following cost questions: Audiology. Why? Cardiology. Why? Pulmonary services. Why? Respiratory Therapy. Why? Its just ridiculous you have to pay for blood in the US. And then, thank you Kaiser Those discounts are going to make all the difference!😡
Yea, THIS is what they charged the insurance company. And THAT is why we pay outrageous fees!! Its Disgusting!! The older i get, the more disgusted I Am to live here!!
For God's sake! according to this invoice, having triplets in USA is a total bankruptcy.
I hate living in Europe, childbirth is free, my wife and I went private in Spain and this cost £60 a month, this included scans every month plus other appointments, 3 days in the hospital and after care £720 for a year no more. It shows that the US health system is all for profit and not for care.
Okay in this case literally every person person involved in the whole thing - including the US president at the time - made every mistake imaginable. Kaiser Permanente (sold the wrong insurance), the people "buying" the insurance (because they were told they would pay less money per month if they didn't have maternity coverage), and Obama for lying from the start about Obamacare.
I Went To The Hospital (Us). They Did One Blood Test, Decided I Had A Virus That They Could Not Identify And That They Could Not Help Me, And Then They Sent Me Home. This Is The Bill From My Insurance. For One. Single. Blood Test
When in the American tv shows, I hear the doctor quickly order things like: The patient needs a CT scan, X-rays, blood tests and an operation for this or that., I just hear the cash register ring over and over again and I think, My God, they just ruined his life with the bill, he's going to wish he hadn't woken up from the accident/illness or whatever!
Insurance, You're The Greatest!
And yet the Americans can't see what a rip off health insurance is.
That amounts to around 20 to 25 percent of all American healthcare spending not being used as it should. Instead of reaching patients and making their healthcare better and cheaper, that money is used for administrative purposes and keeping the system afloat. In short inefficiencies in the system lead to larger costs. And the American people suffer for it. With the Covid-19 pandemic, things have gotten worse.
I’m A Registered Nurse That Contracted Covid. This Is My Bill For My Visit To The Emergency Department
That's disgusting. You literally risk your life every day to help patients for (I assume) rather mediocre pay, and when you become a patient yourself they send you this. Disgusting...
My Bill For A 2 Night Hospital Stay
Oh my gawd, that is crazy! My Dad is currently fighting cancer in the hospital. He's been there for 11 days - total cost= 0,-!
My Mother’s Hospital Bill Of When She Went To The Er Cause Of Her Gallbladder And Had To Have Emergency Surgery. She Was In The Hospital For One Day
However, Investopedia provides slightly different numbers than the NYT. According to them, the US spends around 8 percent of its healthcare costs on administration. “Providers face a huge array of usage and billing requirements from multiple payers, which makes it necessary to hire costly administrative help for billing and reimbursements,” they explain why the waste in the system occurs in the first place.
Hospital Bill For A 21yo Admitted For A Suicide Attempt - This Is The State Of Our Modern American "Healthcare"
Having A Baby Is Not Cheap
In New Zealand our daughter was in NICU for 3-4 days. Our bill? $0... Didn't even pay for parking. Got given a pass to the carparks. Single room overlooking the park.
Insurance Just Paid $57,605.79 For Medication That Costs Under $100 Anywhere Else
OK So I REALLY don't understand why the FBI haven't charged these firms with fraud and racketeering-plainly this is fraudulent.
Investopedia notes that the Covid-19 pandemic has further increased the pressure on the already highly complex and expensive American healthcare system. “There’s an urgent need to expand testing and treatment for COVID-19 to all residents who need it, regardless of health insurance status. Massive federal cash influxes have sought to shore up hospitals sagging under the weight of the coronavirus burden and the related cessation of elective surgery and regular medical care,” they write.
My Buddies Medical Bill For A Month-Long Stay In The Hospital After Being Hit By A Driver High On Heroin
The Hospital "Helping"
And I'm sure this will have a great effect on this person's mental well-being, too. Great business model. Take people's money, their mental health goes down because they have money trouble, they have to get help, you can take more of their money, repeat. It's like something a supervillain would cook up.
I Bought Dental Insurance Specifically So I Could Afford To Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed. Humana Deducted Less Than What I Pay Them Monthly From My Medical Bill
Go on America, tell me how medical insurance is better than socialized healthcare
However, the American healthcare system has had issues long before Covid. Life expectancy in the US stands at 78.8 years while it ranges from 80.7 to 83.9 in other high-income countries that the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at.
My Father In Law's Hospital Bill After 2 1/2 Days In The Hospital For Observation
Don’t these suspiciously high bills often decrease a lot once a detailed itemised bill is requested? I really hope that the do.
Went To The Er For What Turned Out To Be A Panic Attack. These Were The Consequences
and the irony is that bill like that is likely to cause another panic attack as most should rightfully be worried about how to come up with that sort of money on a short notice.
Got The Hospital Bill For Delivery Of My C-Section Baby. I Don’t Think I Need To Say Which Country I Live In
For that money she could have travelled to Europe, give birth, enjoy 6 months of rest and relaxation and still have saved $40.000.
Unfortunately, only 90 percent of Americans have health insurance which is 9 to 10 percent lower than in these other industrialized countries. Many Americans feel like they simply cannot afford insurance.
The Worst Part About Healthcare! This Is A Real Bill For A Motorized Wheelchair, Something A Person Needs To Live!
Just Got My $39k Hospital Bill For Having A Stroke At 34
I'd have had a second one after seeing the bill. Why do Americans put up with this??
My Buddy's Son Ate A Penny, This Is How Much The Hospital Charged For A 5 Minute Procedure To Get It Out
National Nurses United points out that a whopping 78 percent of adult Americans avoided visiting the hospital while 44 percent skipped medical care due to the large cost, in 2018. In a very sad commentary on the reality that Americans face, nearly a third, 30 percent, said that they were forced to choose between paying for their medical bills and necessities such as buying food or paying for their housing.
Got Our Hospital Bill On The Same Day That A Handwritten Thank You Card From My Wife's Nurses Arrived
Just Got The First Bill For My Back Surgery. The Surgery Itself Is Not Included On This Statement
This Is The Cost Of A Rattlesnake Bite In America
How can the pharmacy charges be higher than the intensive care bed?! This is just ridiculous. I'm so grateful for the NHS.
Meanwhile, NNU also reports that back in 2019, 137.1 million people living in the US said that they were struggling with medical debt. The complexity of the system and the high hospital charges also drove up the cost of treating those ill with Covid-19. The cost of treating a Covid-19 patient who stays at the hospital can reach over 42.4k dollars if there are no or few complications. Whereas those with major complications can end up paying over 74.3k dollars for their stay.
My Hospital Bill After A Single Mri Brain Scan In The Us
For comparison: In Germany a head MRT is billed with 400 to 500€ if you pay yourself (because it was not medically necessary and thus the insurance doesn't cover it.)
My Hospital Bill For An Uncomplicated Birth
170k
What was to happen if one refuses to pay the bill? ( not from America and any form of health care is borne by the insurance company in my country).
What do you think about the healthcare and health insurance systems in the United States, dear Pandas? What do you think it would take for the situation to fundamentally change? Have you ever had to pay off a huge hospital bill like in this list? Share your thoughts and feelings about the topic in the comment section at the bottom of the article.
An Uninsured Covid-19 Patient Just Got Her Medical Bill: $34,927.43
Wth does single payer and covid have to do with each other? They are literally separate issues.
Welcome To The USA. Just The Hospital Bill From A Car Accident. Note Charges Denied
Healthcare As God Would Have Wanted It
Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I feel sorry for the USA, then wearily frustrated when Americans poo-poo taxes paying for education, housing and healthcare - calling it communism / socialism without understanding what socialism actually is. It's like the circus elephant that's learned to love the chain around its leg. Get private shareholder-based insurance companies out of healthcare. It's as evil as a pedophile running a daycare.
Especially as I imagine the amount lost in taxes would be less than the amount they pay in insurance, but one supports just them and the other supports those less well off.
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Speaking as someone from Europe, I wonder how many Americans realise just how utterly bewildering this is to other countries. It just doesn't seem possible outside of a dystopian novel. I just genuinely don't understand it.
And even more, I wonder how many Americans realise that on top of the free covernmental healthcare we can whenever needed also services from the private sector with way more lower prices and our reasonable priced voluntary medical insurances also really handles most of those costs :D
Load More Replies... I had to stop reading, these are so depressing. Do they effect your credit score? Do you have to sell your homes to pay for them? How is this bullshit even legal?
Yeah, I found it increasingly depressing to read. It's hard enough dealing with a medical emergency without the stress of extortion.
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I'm not reading this thread as it is just going to make me really angry. The US does not have anything resembling a healthcare system. It just has greedy corporations that extract money from its citizens through IV lines. Having just read about some guy stealing $1 so he can be sent to prison and get free healthcare just about sums up the state it is in.
I agree 100% but even the prisons there are run for profit. Don't even get me started on that...🙄
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I paid $6500 for a one hour surgery that was very much needed and less than 6 hours in the hospital total. Half Had to be paid before the surgery. And that's with insurance. Healthcare in the US sucks. They rape us everyday.
Doesn't anyone find it peculiar that people in the states will scream at the top of their lungs to "free britney" - something they will absolutely get 0 benefit from - yet they won't riot against disastrous healthcare?
Every year I realize we are more stupid than the rest of the world!!
Load More Replies... Let me tell you a short story: my husband is a Captain. Back a few years he was at sea and he answered to a MayDay over the radio (his boat happen to be the closest to the incident). He got there, there was a guy in the water ( whom he saved, by the way) but the dingy that the guy fell from had no kill switch and was lose. In a freak twist of faith, that same dingy hit a buoy and did a 180degree turn, and run my husband three times. This resulted in his left foot being amputated below knee. The total bill we've got was over 250.000$. He is a Captain and he saved someones life!!
Did he get no help or support with the finances at all? Disgusting if not. Hope he's doing okay now.
Load More Replies... Genuine question if someone can enlighten me? How does the average American actually manage to pay these bills? I know the above might be extreme examples but even if, after an insurance payout, your medical bill still amount to tens of thousands how does someone actually pay this? Myself and my wife earn a decent wage but if we suddenly had a 10k + bill land on our doormat I really don't know how we'd pay it.
Payment plans. Basically these people just bought the equivalent of a house - against their will. "Oh, you don't HAVE $200k? Well what a coincidence, our hospital has a partnership with a lending company!!! Oh, you don't like 20% interest rates? Oh darn, that's too bad!...check your wallet again and see if you have that $200k yet!"
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What many Americans might not know, is that in Europe there usually is also a private health care available beside the public one. It's usually paid by your employee, so the working people get fast quality care, and non-working (children, pensioners, unemployed) get slow quality care. But even if you don't have an employer to pay and you decide to pay for a private health care, it's WAY cheaper (Like 5 000 euros for a hip placement surgery or 10 000 euros for a bariatric surgery) and you'll still get heavily subsidized medication.
This is appalling. How did a country lose its way so shockingly in such a fundamental human right area as health. I come to Bored Panda for amusement - this is just horribly wrong. Really, it’s symptomatic of a wider American problem though: let’s not pay our sports stars 1 million, give them 80 million. Why charge $2000 for a University program when you can charge $200000??
Because people have been brainwashed. They think we do this to ourselves.
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Your healthcare is a literal joke. My brother somehow got a bandsaw blade more than halfway through his finger bone and it was almost free
my father in law cut his hand off almost 15 years ago and he was treated 4 times over 5 years , total cost £0 , hand works fine
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My mental health went down the drain. Anxiety inducing. My dad is in ICU for covid, he's 72 with stage 4 as well. Current bill $1.2M
You cannot look at this and say that American government or some of its people care about humanity. People are evil and just don't care. All they care about is money. When it comes to us all having what we need. There is no reason we all cannot live happy, healthy and whole. Just know that people make it this way and they make sure you're unhealthy, unhappy, homeless, and starving. That is all there is to it. If you are against anyone having what they need and earning enough to live. That is your stance. Wanting people to be without even though they do exactly what they should. It's pure evil and I cannot stand people like this.
Anyone who has to answer "Why don't you want to have kids?" can go ahead and bookmark this page...
It's not a law to have a baby at the hospital, we do have midwives.
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I'm in the UK and got discharged from hospital after 23 days of being in there. In that time I had 4 operations under general anesthetic before being transported by ambulance 30 miles to East Grinstead's Queen Victoria Hospital, the birth place of plastic surgery for another operation. In that time I had my dressing changed multiple times, countless blood tests and drips with pain killers and antibiotics along with having my blood sugar monitored and given insulin. Plus a visit from a physio team who gave a crutch to get about at home during recovery, a phycologist to see how I was and was given 3 good meals every day. They sent me home with more anti-biotics, pain killers, 2 insulin pens and a blood sugar meter. I have to return 3 times in the next week for check on the healing and to have dressing changed. I would dread to think how much this would have cost in the USA.
Yeah, it majorly sucks. I have good insuramce for the US, and I'm still paying thousands out of pocket every year. This year: I've paid over $800 for teeth cleanings.
The dentist in Houston charge 120 for a cleaning. Your getting ripped off.
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Everyone else should share our hospital bills from our countries...oh wait...
They march against gun control and they riot over an election result but some Americans actually SUPPORT the healthcare system. You need to demonstrate against this injustice, you need to elect politicians that will tackle this scam or you need to leave. I am sick and tired of seeing US citizens exploited like this. Legislation needs to focus on people rather than military power. This disgusts me.
I hate today's healthcare, but there are better choices than universal healthcare.
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Well, so you'll notice that this is an incredibly small selection AND it's a bit extreme (yes there are hundreds of thousands of people in this situation). Some of these people might actually pay these bills. Most will go into a dispute with the insurance company and the healthcare facility. Some will sue and... the catch to absolutely every one of these situations is that they take so much time. I mean months. Sometimes years.
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I have this theory that it is the buzzwords "socialism" and "free" that are killing any chance of healthcare reform in America. If the ideas were presented exactly the same way, however, they were titled "American Freedom Medical Care" or something along those lines, then I bet more Americans would be more willing to accept it. My parents are suspicious of anything advertised as free, and my dad literally calls everything he doesn’t like "communist." So, I assume this is probably the case for a lot of the people in their generation and above. While a simple rename is probably too easy a solution, I doubt it could hurt to try such an approach if people are serious about change.
And yet, so many defend their non socialist health care system. So sad they won't joint the rest of the developed western world and get freedom from going bankrupt because of illness
I'm from a country where we dont pay for healthcare, if an American doesnt have health insurance what happens if they need to go in hospital. Just curious.
https://healthcareinsider.com/hospital-no-insurance-59540#:~:text=If%20you%20end%20up%20at%20the%20hospital%20without,matter%20what%20until%20you%27ve%20been%20confirmed%20as%20stable.
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The sad thing is, this will never change. It will only get worse. We will never have universal healthcare in the USA, the insurance companies have far too much power and influence over our politicians.
With that attitude, then you're correct. Where are the protests? The strikes? Why are Americans so brainwashed into slavish obedience to the system that they aren't *doing* anything about it? Decades of whining and moaning online won't achieve a single thing.
Load More Replies... No-one should be forced to pay to live. My husband and I did the math on moving to America after he was offered a job and we worked out it would cost close to £80,000 per year to keep me alive it’s disgusting. Here in the u.k the direct cost to me is £0 yes we have to pay national insurance but that is deducted from your pay cheque so you don’t really notice it
If every American refused to pay and researched the actual cost for their procedures, Took it to court and sued the hospitals for falsifying their bills... what would happen?
They would probably lose. Most times they unwittingly signed a mandatory arbitration clause and the arbitrator is hired by the medical service.
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The USA used to have perks, but absolutely everything that matters (healthcare, education, security, nature, opportunity, lifestyle, living standard and cost of living) is better, of a higher quality and far more affordable in practically every advanced western country on earth. the USA is no. 1 in nothing except military spending and numbers of incarcerated individuals.
I got a lot of crap from a lot of family members when I chose to go to college and chose my profession but a big part of that decision was insurance. My degree would be worthless...blah, blah, blah... Now I see their medical bills and I am floored. I wish it didn't have to be and I love what I do but I haven't had a non-insured job since I was in high school for just this reason. Out of pocket to have a baby? $50.00. That part of my compensation package makes me a very loyal employee, too. I wish we had socialized medicine. I could have enjoyed college instead of working two full time jobs.
You know how biased BoredPanda is when they say "the rest of the world" but only refer to Western Europe, which is no more than 5 countries out of 200.
Dear US, I pay 120 a month for my insurance. My boss takes a bit of tax for health (plus a bit of tax for other stuff) - in total, I think my monthly health costs are 350 euro. That's less than your insurance payments, I'm sure. Sincerely - fix that s**t. Stop thinking it's communist to have universal healthcare. You all win.
That's what it was like before Obamacare and the democrats fixed it.
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Just so you know - at least in germany it is not "free". We all pay health insurance like taxes, which amount depends on your income. But yes, this covers a lot (most) of the expensive stuff. And those shown numbers here are just insane and impossible in germany and its social system...
And people are wondering why birthrate is decreasing in the US. Contraception is wayyy cheaper.
NY, USA resident here. I remember a person in the room next to me in my college dorm building had a (relatively minor) seizure when we were relaxing in the common room. We (maybe 7 of us) took her outside, and we had to hold her arms and legs firmly while pressing on her forehead and the upper back of her neck(as per her request). I think we stayed out there for at least 30 minutes before going back inside. Last I heard, she was better. DIY should not have to be chosen over a professional clinic.
I literally lost sleep over this when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Luckily my parents had good healthcare coverage and they managed just fine. I think a $90k week-long inpatient stay cost them around $1000 after insurance.
People of America!! Do something! Use your own democrasy with 2 political parties! 🤣🤣
This infuriates me; I can't even convey how much. 58-yr-old professional; three grown kids; nothing like this yet - but it's got to come. I truly don't know what I'll do. There's no way I think I'm worth a million of my or other people's money to prolong me at this stage in my life - I've done all I want to do already - this is just the gravy time - not worth paying for it..
This is utterly depressing. I'm glad I live in the UK where I get free healthcare.
This also doesn't mention how hospitals majorly inflate prices so they can get more money from the patient's health insurance. But if the patient doesn't have insurance they are still expected to pay it. And even if they do have insurance, the insurance company may not pay it anyways again leaving it on the patient. I just got hit with a $50,000 hospital bill. Luckily, my insurance paid a lot of it. But while im still trying to recover, I can't work. I don't have a source of income. Thankfully I was able to move back home to my parents and they're taking care of me. I know I'm so lucky. Many people don't have options like that.
Lived in Florida for 30 years, moved to Canada. Gotta say my whole life I was told how horrid Canada's health care is, you will never be able to see a doctor and how much they tax you and so on... I had a few health issues here and never waited (helps I live outside Toronto) I am close to a lot of hospitals. Only thing I ever have to pay is parking. I am very happy to pay my taxes so NO ONE ever has to make a choice between eating and seeing a doctor. It is so broken in the states and most people are brainwashed into thinking its GOOD because public health care will take your choice away. IT DOESNT. Insurance companies take your choices away.
I feel extremely lucky I am a disabled retired veteran, had I been hurt anywhere outside of the military I couldn’t afford to live but since I was 0 bills except a occasional 5-20 dollar prescription, I don’t use the VA since I medically retired I got to keep tricare for life for free, if not I’d be 100k’s in debt after 4 back surgeries and 14 years of medications and weekly doctor visits
american has been brainwashed into thinking that everything the government try to do is bad for them. at least most of the new generation didn't think like that.
Maybe your government, ours really is that bad though.
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We know it sucks. We know. And many of us know that without taxes to fund public use infrastructure, such as education and healthcare, we're screwed. Now, go tell it to the other half of the US, b/c htey don't listen to us. *sigh*
This makes me angry, and people actively vote against universal healthcare, and end up with crippling debt over a short hospital visit. America the land of the free unless you get ill, then land of the crippling debt. I am so thankful being from the UK and having the NHS.
that's why we took an additional insurance for eventual health problems when we visited the US in 2016.... Greetings from France
One thing that helps reduce cost is to tell the hospital bill office that you want the bill itemized. It's amazing how much the price can drop. I had a same day in and out surgery, total cost was about $500,000. My co-pay was about $80,000. I have Medicare and they pay 80% ($400,000) of the bill, plus I did get some discounts and medical assistance that subtracted $20,000. I had them itemize the bill and it left my total payment at $6,000. I had to pay that off in small, monthly amounts due to disability income, so that was a call to the billing office to negotiate my monthly payment amount. I do not understand what our country is so stubborn about healthcare. I can only assume that there are a lot of stupid people out there.
There is charity and medical assistance to pay bills, you just have to ask. Non profit hospitals have to get rid of money, so they have programs set up and just don't tell people about them. Before I had my disability, I worked at a hospital and learned a few things.
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Yeah; we know it sucks. There really isn’t much point cramming it in our faces, though. Being told “iN eUrOpE iT’s FrEe” accomplishes nothing, and for most of us there’s nothing we can do to fix it.
But you don't seem to be even trying, that's the frustrating thing. Online bítching and moaning seems to be as far as anyone is prepared to do. Where are the protests? The civil disobedience and strikes? Why do you all rollover like dogs and allow them to kick you over and over again?
Load More Replies... Ok Jonas, What a manipulative, fake news, article you spewed out here. So there is no discussion about why these bills are so high, the fact that the insurance co have not YET paid out for medical bill. Instead, you manipulate people into believing that they must pay 100's of thousands of dollars out of pocket to push your perspective for what, universal health care? While I will agree that medical care is outlandishly high, needs drastic reform, you cannot prove your point with lies, exaggerations, when you can use cold hard truths to get your point across.
"Instead, you manipulate people into believing that they must pay 100's of thousands of dollars out of pocket to push your perspective for what, universal health care?" What's wrong with universal healthcare?
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So? People Are People! Every human being on this Earth belongs here and should have what they need to sustain their lives. You call them immigrants but they are people human beings for f*****k s s a k e!
Load More Replies... I feel sorry for the USA, then wearily frustrated when Americans poo-poo taxes paying for education, housing and healthcare - calling it communism / socialism without understanding what socialism actually is. It's like the circus elephant that's learned to love the chain around its leg. Get private shareholder-based insurance companies out of healthcare. It's as evil as a pedophile running a daycare.
Especially as I imagine the amount lost in taxes would be less than the amount they pay in insurance, but one supports just them and the other supports those less well off.
Load More Replies... Speaking as someone from Europe, I wonder how many Americans realise just how utterly bewildering this is to other countries. It just doesn't seem possible outside of a dystopian novel. I just genuinely don't understand it.
And even more, I wonder how many Americans realise that on top of the free covernmental healthcare we can whenever needed also services from the private sector with way more lower prices and our reasonable priced voluntary medical insurances also really handles most of those costs :D
Load More Replies... I had to stop reading, these are so depressing. Do they effect your credit score? Do you have to sell your homes to pay for them? How is this bullshit even legal?
Yeah, I found it increasingly depressing to read. It's hard enough dealing with a medical emergency without the stress of extortion.
Load More Replies... I'm not reading this thread as it is just going to make me really angry. The US does not have anything resembling a healthcare system. It just has greedy corporations that extract money from its citizens through IV lines. Having just read about some guy stealing $1 so he can be sent to prison and get free healthcare just about sums up the state it is in.
I agree 100% but even the prisons there are run for profit. Don't even get me started on that...🙄
Load More Replies... I paid $6500 for a one hour surgery that was very much needed and less than 6 hours in the hospital total. Half Had to be paid before the surgery. And that's with insurance. Healthcare in the US sucks. They rape us everyday.
Doesn't anyone find it peculiar that people in the states will scream at the top of their lungs to "free britney" - something they will absolutely get 0 benefit from - yet they won't riot against disastrous healthcare?
Every year I realize we are more stupid than the rest of the world!!
Load More Replies... Let me tell you a short story: my husband is a Captain. Back a few years he was at sea and he answered to a MayDay over the radio (his boat happen to be the closest to the incident). He got there, there was a guy in the water ( whom he saved, by the way) but the dingy that the guy fell from had no kill switch and was lose. In a freak twist of faith, that same dingy hit a buoy and did a 180degree turn, and run my husband three times. This resulted in his left foot being amputated below knee. The total bill we've got was over 250.000$. He is a Captain and he saved someones life!!
Did he get no help or support with the finances at all? Disgusting if not. Hope he's doing okay now.
Load More Replies... Genuine question if someone can enlighten me? How does the average American actually manage to pay these bills? I know the above might be extreme examples but even if, after an insurance payout, your medical bill still amount to tens of thousands how does someone actually pay this? Myself and my wife earn a decent wage but if we suddenly had a 10k + bill land on our doormat I really don't know how we'd pay it.
Payment plans. Basically these people just bought the equivalent of a house - against their will. "Oh, you don't HAVE $200k? Well what a coincidence, our hospital has a partnership with a lending company!!! Oh, you don't like 20% interest rates? Oh darn, that's too bad!...check your wallet again and see if you have that $200k yet!"
Load More Replies... What many Americans might not know, is that in Europe there usually is also a private health care available beside the public one. It's usually paid by your employee, so the working people get fast quality care, and non-working (children, pensioners, unemployed) get slow quality care. But even if you don't have an employer to pay and you decide to pay for a private health care, it's WAY cheaper (Like 5 000 euros for a hip placement surgery or 10 000 euros for a bariatric surgery) and you'll still get heavily subsidized medication.
This is appalling. How did a country lose its way so shockingly in such a fundamental human right area as health. I come to Bored Panda for amusement - this is just horribly wrong. Really, it’s symptomatic of a wider American problem though: let’s not pay our sports stars 1 million, give them 80 million. Why charge $2000 for a University program when you can charge $200000??
Because people have been brainwashed. They think we do this to ourselves.
Load More Replies... Your healthcare is a literal joke. My brother somehow got a bandsaw blade more than halfway through his finger bone and it was almost free
my father in law cut his hand off almost 15 years ago and he was treated 4 times over 5 years , total cost £0 , hand works fine
Load More Replies... My mental health went down the drain. Anxiety inducing. My dad is in ICU for covid, he's 72 with stage 4 as well. Current bill $1.2M
You cannot look at this and say that American government or some of its people care about humanity. People are evil and just don't care. All they care about is money. When it comes to us all having what we need. There is no reason we all cannot live happy, healthy and whole. Just know that people make it this way and they make sure you're unhealthy, unhappy, homeless, and starving. That is all there is to it. If you are against anyone having what they need and earning enough to live. That is your stance. Wanting people to be without even though they do exactly what they should. It's pure evil and I cannot stand people like this.
Anyone who has to answer "Why don't you want to have kids?" can go ahead and bookmark this page...
It's not a law to have a baby at the hospital, we do have midwives.
Load More Replies... I'm in the UK and got discharged from hospital after 23 days of being in there. In that time I had 4 operations under general anesthetic before being transported by ambulance 30 miles to East Grinstead's Queen Victoria Hospital, the birth place of plastic surgery for another operation. In that time I had my dressing changed multiple times, countless blood tests and drips with pain killers and antibiotics along with having my blood sugar monitored and given insulin. Plus a visit from a physio team who gave a crutch to get about at home during recovery, a phycologist to see how I was and was given 3 good meals every day. They sent me home with more anti-biotics, pain killers, 2 insulin pens and a blood sugar meter. I have to return 3 times in the next week for check on the healing and to have dressing changed. I would dread to think how much this would have cost in the USA.
Yeah, it majorly sucks. I have good insuramce for the US, and I'm still paying thousands out of pocket every year. This year: I've paid over $800 for teeth cleanings.
The dentist in Houston charge 120 for a cleaning. Your getting ripped off.
Load More Replies... Everyone else should share our hospital bills from our countries...oh wait...
They march against gun control and they riot over an election result but some Americans actually SUPPORT the healthcare system. You need to demonstrate against this injustice, you need to elect politicians that will tackle this scam or you need to leave. I am sick and tired of seeing US citizens exploited like this. Legislation needs to focus on people rather than military power. This disgusts me.
I hate today's healthcare, but there are better choices than universal healthcare.
Load More Replies... Well, so you'll notice that this is an incredibly small selection AND it's a bit extreme (yes there are hundreds of thousands of people in this situation). Some of these people might actually pay these bills. Most will go into a dispute with the insurance company and the healthcare facility. Some will sue and... the catch to absolutely every one of these situations is that they take so much time. I mean months. Sometimes years.
Load More Replies... I have this theory that it is the buzzwords "socialism" and "free" that are killing any chance of healthcare reform in America. If the ideas were presented exactly the same way, however, they were titled "American Freedom Medical Care" or something along those lines, then I bet more Americans would be more willing to accept it. My parents are suspicious of anything advertised as free, and my dad literally calls everything he doesn’t like "communist." So, I assume this is probably the case for a lot of the people in their generation and above. While a simple rename is probably too easy a solution, I doubt it could hurt to try such an approach if people are serious about change.
And yet, so many defend their non socialist health care system. So sad they won't joint the rest of the developed western world and get freedom from going bankrupt because of illness
I'm from a country where we dont pay for healthcare, if an American doesnt have health insurance what happens if they need to go in hospital. Just curious.
https://healthcareinsider.com/hospital-no-insurance-59540#:~:text=If%20you%20end%20up%20at%20the%20hospital%20without,matter%20what%20until%20you%27ve%20been%20confirmed%20as%20stable.
Load More Replies... The sad thing is, this will never change. It will only get worse. We will never have universal healthcare in the USA, the insurance companies have far too much power and influence over our politicians.
With that attitude, then you're correct. Where are the protests? The strikes? Why are Americans so brainwashed into slavish obedience to the system that they aren't *doing* anything about it? Decades of whining and moaning online won't achieve a single thing.
Load More Replies... No-one should be forced to pay to live. My husband and I did the math on moving to America after he was offered a job and we worked out it would cost close to £80,000 per year to keep me alive it’s disgusting. Here in the u.k the direct cost to me is £0 yes we have to pay national insurance but that is deducted from your pay cheque so you don’t really notice it
If every American refused to pay and researched the actual cost for their procedures, Took it to court and sued the hospitals for falsifying their bills... what would happen?
They would probably lose. Most times they unwittingly signed a mandatory arbitration clause and the arbitrator is hired by the medical service.
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The USA used to have perks, but absolutely everything that matters (healthcare, education, security, nature, opportunity, lifestyle, living standard and cost of living) is better, of a higher quality and far more affordable in practically every advanced western country on earth. the USA is no. 1 in nothing except military spending and numbers of incarcerated individuals.
I got a lot of crap from a lot of family members when I chose to go to college and chose my profession but a big part of that decision was insurance. My degree would be worthless...blah, blah, blah... Now I see their medical bills and I am floored. I wish it didn't have to be and I love what I do but I haven't had a non-insured job since I was in high school for just this reason. Out of pocket to have a baby? $50.00. That part of my compensation package makes me a very loyal employee, too. I wish we had socialized medicine. I could have enjoyed college instead of working two full time jobs.
You know how biased BoredPanda is when they say "the rest of the world" but only refer to Western Europe, which is no more than 5 countries out of 200.
Dear US, I pay 120 a month for my insurance. My boss takes a bit of tax for health (plus a bit of tax for other stuff) - in total, I think my monthly health costs are 350 euro. That's less than your insurance payments, I'm sure. Sincerely - fix that s**t. Stop thinking it's communist to have universal healthcare. You all win.
That's what it was like before Obamacare and the democrats fixed it.
Load More Replies... Just so you know - at least in germany it is not "free". We all pay health insurance like taxes, which amount depends on your income. But yes, this covers a lot (most) of the expensive stuff. And those shown numbers here are just insane and impossible in germany and its social system...
And people are wondering why birthrate is decreasing in the US. Contraception is wayyy cheaper.
NY, USA resident here. I remember a person in the room next to me in my college dorm building had a (relatively minor) seizure when we were relaxing in the common room. We (maybe 7 of us) took her outside, and we had to hold her arms and legs firmly while pressing on her forehead and the upper back of her neck(as per her request). I think we stayed out there for at least 30 minutes before going back inside. Last I heard, she was better. DIY should not have to be chosen over a professional clinic.
I literally lost sleep over this when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Luckily my parents had good healthcare coverage and they managed just fine. I think a $90k week-long inpatient stay cost them around $1000 after insurance.
People of America!! Do something! Use your own democrasy with 2 political parties! 🤣🤣
This infuriates me; I can't even convey how much. 58-yr-old professional; three grown kids; nothing like this yet - but it's got to come. I truly don't know what I'll do. There's no way I think I'm worth a million of my or other people's money to prolong me at this stage in my life - I've done all I want to do already - this is just the gravy time - not worth paying for it..
This is utterly depressing. I'm glad I live in the UK where I get free healthcare.
This also doesn't mention how hospitals majorly inflate prices so they can get more money from the patient's health insurance. But if the patient doesn't have insurance they are still expected to pay it. And even if they do have insurance, the insurance company may not pay it anyways again leaving it on the patient. I just got hit with a $50,000 hospital bill. Luckily, my insurance paid a lot of it. But while im still trying to recover, I can't work. I don't have a source of income. Thankfully I was able to move back home to my parents and they're taking care of me. I know I'm so lucky. Many people don't have options like that.
Lived in Florida for 30 years, moved to Canada. Gotta say my whole life I was told how horrid Canada's health care is, you will never be able to see a doctor and how much they tax you and so on... I had a few health issues here and never waited (helps I live outside Toronto) I am close to a lot of hospitals. Only thing I ever have to pay is parking. I am very happy to pay my taxes so NO ONE ever has to make a choice between eating and seeing a doctor. It is so broken in the states and most people are brainwashed into thinking its GOOD because public health care will take your choice away. IT DOESNT. Insurance companies take your choices away.
I feel extremely lucky I am a disabled retired veteran, had I been hurt anywhere outside of the military I couldn’t afford to live but since I was 0 bills except a occasional 5-20 dollar prescription, I don’t use the VA since I medically retired I got to keep tricare for life for free, if not I’d be 100k’s in debt after 4 back surgeries and 14 years of medications and weekly doctor visits
american has been brainwashed into thinking that everything the government try to do is bad for them. at least most of the new generation didn't think like that.
Maybe your government, ours really is that bad though.
Load More Replies... We know it sucks. We know. And many of us know that without taxes to fund public use infrastructure, such as education and healthcare, we're screwed. Now, go tell it to the other half of the US, b/c htey don't listen to us. *sigh*
This makes me angry, and people actively vote against universal healthcare, and end up with crippling debt over a short hospital visit. America the land of the free unless you get ill, then land of the crippling debt. I am so thankful being from the UK and having the NHS.
that's why we took an additional insurance for eventual health problems when we visited the US in 2016.... Greetings from France
One thing that helps reduce cost is to tell the hospital bill office that you want the bill itemized. It's amazing how much the price can drop. I had a same day in and out surgery, total cost was about $500,000. My co-pay was about $80,000. I have Medicare and they pay 80% ($400,000) of the bill, plus I did get some discounts and medical assistance that subtracted $20,000. I had them itemize the bill and it left my total payment at $6,000. I had to pay that off in small, monthly amounts due to disability income, so that was a call to the billing office to negotiate my monthly payment amount. I do not understand what our country is so stubborn about healthcare. I can only assume that there are a lot of stupid people out there.
There is charity and medical assistance to pay bills, you just have to ask. Non profit hospitals have to get rid of money, so they have programs set up and just don't tell people about them. Before I had my disability, I worked at a hospital and learned a few things.
Load More Replies... Yeah; we know it sucks. There really isn’t much point cramming it in our faces, though. Being told “iN eUrOpE iT’s FrEe” accomplishes nothing, and for most of us there’s nothing we can do to fix it.
But you don't seem to be even trying, that's the frustrating thing. Online bítching and moaning seems to be as far as anyone is prepared to do. Where are the protests? The civil disobedience and strikes? Why do you all rollover like dogs and allow them to kick you over and over again?
Load More Replies... Ok Jonas, What a manipulative, fake news, article you spewed out here. So there is no discussion about why these bills are so high, the fact that the insurance co have not YET paid out for medical bill. Instead, you manipulate people into believing that they must pay 100's of thousands of dollars out of pocket to push your perspective for what, universal health care? While I will agree that medical care is outlandishly high, needs drastic reform, you cannot prove your point with lies, exaggerations, when you can use cold hard truths to get your point across.
"Instead, you manipulate people into believing that they must pay 100's of thousands of dollars out of pocket to push your perspective for what, universal health care?" What's wrong with universal healthcare?
Load More Replies... So? People Are People! Every human being on this Earth belongs here and should have what they need to sustain their lives. You call them immigrants but they are people human beings for f*****k s s a k e!
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