Buzz
It’s well-known that the U.S. healthcare system is seriously broken. We often seek medical treatment without knowing the cost upfront, as prices are negotiated between hospitals and insurance companies. We're stuck paying premiums, deductibles, and any bills that might arise, with no real say in the matter.
In response to this, a recent tweet from Bernie Sanders asked people to share their “most outrageous” medical billing experiences, and the stories that followed are gut-wrenching. (The hardest ones to read, for me, are those involving children who died or had their health endangered due to billing issues or difficulties finding an in-network hospital. Check out the replies in the link above if you want to read more.)
While this may be common knowledge for those in the U.S., every so often someone from Canada or Europe stumbles upon the discussion and asks how something like this could even be possible—how bills like these even exist.
The healthcare system in this country is unlikely to undergo any major changes anytime soon, though some politicians are putting forth proposals for reform, and initiatives like Vox's investigations into emergency room charges are beginning to apply pressure on hospitals. In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you: What’s the most outrageous medical bill you’ve received?
