She crashed, cracked her head, and now she's facing a $100,000 bill

Check out this absolute insanity:

This woman was in an accident, but since she doesn't have Medicare coverage, they’re hitting her with a $700,000 bill. I can't wrap my head around this—her actual medical treatment costs $150,000, yet they’re charging her $560,000 just to transport her home.

What kind of high-end pharmaceuticals are they pumping into her to justify a $150,000 tab?
And what kind of private space shuttle are they using to drive her home that it costs $560,000?

Roger Sanders said:Check out this absolute madness:

A woman was in an accident, but since she doesn't have health insurance, they're hitting her with a $700,000 bill. I can't wrap my head around it—her medical treatment costs $150,000, and then they're charging $560,000 just to transport her home.

What kind of high-end drugs are they giving her to justify a $150,000 bill?
And what kind of starship are they using to drive her home that it costs $560,000?

I'm not sure how far the transport had to go. Usually, the price includes the whole medical escort—doctors, nurses, and drivers—plus the trip back.
I remember a guy we know who was brutally beaten while visiting Chile. He ended up in a coma. People actually had to organize charity concerts just to try and cover his medical bills.
Honestly, it’s on her. I travel all the time, and I never leave the house without travel insurance that covers medical emergencies.
If something like this happened to us here in the States, we'd be forced to sell everything we own, take out massive loans, and beg for donations. Even then, it probably wouldn't be enough.
Just like everywhere else, there's a set price list, and that's what you get billed. Hospitals aren't charities, and if you don't have insurance, they charge you for every single service.
Over there, people can literally collapse on the floor, and the staff won't even give them a second look until they see how they're going to pay the bill.

Roger Sanders said:Check out this absolute nonsense:

A woman was in an accident, but since she doesn't have Medicare, they're hitting her with a $700,000 bill. I can't wrap my head around it—her medical treatment costs $150,000, and then they're charging $560,000 just to transport her home.

What kind of high-end drugs are they pumping into her to justify a $150,000 tab?
And what kind of starship are they using to drive her home that it costs $560,000?

Honestly, what's the big surprise here?

Try traveling to another state without any insurance and getting hurt like this; you'll see how fast those bills pile up. And what exactly $50000 is expected for someone in a coma? They’re on a ventilator, getting a mountain of meds, plus who knows how many daily tests and scans they're running through...

Damn, the basic tests we take for granted cost thousands. Go get a private MRI and tell me what you'd pay.

Honestly, I don't see this as some huge scandal or anything crazy. I really do feel for those girls, but you just can't go on trips—especially overseas—without travel insurance. It's a total no-brainer.

I’m actually hanging out in Canada right now, and man, I cannot even begin to imagine the massive medical bills I'd be staring at if something went wrong and I wasn't covered.

Look, whenever you travel—whether you're just going on vacation or heading out for business—you don't go anywhere without insurance. It’s a no-brainer. You might feel like you're in peak physical condition right now, but you never know when things will turn sideways. It isn't worth risking everything you own or drowning in credit card debt just to cover a medical emergency.

I actually saw this on the news recently. They were talking about how much a trip costs when someone ends up in a coma. You have to fly the patient out, bring along a respirator, and coordinate a whole medical team—doctors, nurses, the works. They probably have to charter a private medevac flight, which is insanely expensive, and then you've got to cover the travel costs and per diems for the entire crew to get back home.

Personally, even when I’m just heading over to Canada for a few days, I make sure to pick up travel insurance; why wouldn't I for a trip this long? You never know if you'll take a tumble off a bike, slip while sightseeing, or something along those lines... and without coverage, I could easily end up broke.

A friend of mine went skiing in France a couple of years ago and opted out of insurance. She ended up breaking her leg on a slope, and once the helicopter arrived, they immediately demanded proof of insurance to cover the medical costs. She had to cough up $1,400 out of pocket for the flight, first aid, and hospital fees. So, please, don't skimp on that little $67 USD...

I honestly don't understand why everyone is acting so surprised; diagnostic tests at a hospital aren't cheap, the equipment is incredibly expensive, and inpatient care is a massive undertaking. Try going to a private clinic for those same tests and see how many loans you'd have to take out just to stay afloat... we really take Medicare for granted.

Honestly, once you factor in the cost of all those medications that Medicare won't touch, you just want to sit down and cry.

And don't even get me started on diagnostic testing. I was honestly a bit shell-shocked when I realized what they charge for various hormone and antibody panels. Just one single antibody test can run you 200-$100, which means by the time someone finishes a full immunological workup, they're looking at several thousand dollars per person.

So, if you ask me, those massive bills for people in a coma? They don't seem that surprising at all.

I seriously don't get why people are acting so shocked. 🤷
It’s just common sense that medical bills aren't free, especially when you're dealing with the kind of hell she's going through right now.

It’s a damn shame she was so reckless that she ended up stuck in this massive financial hole, but hey, maybe her situation can serve as a wake-up call for everyone else. It should be a loud and clear reminder to act responsibly and actually get travel insurance before things go south.

Amanda Lewis66 said:I honestly don't get people who act surprised. 🤷
It’s common sense that medical treatment costs money, especially given what she's dealing with right now.

It’s tragic that she was so reckless that she ended up in this financial mess, but maybe this serves as a wake-up call for everyone else. It should remind people to be responsible and actually buy travel insurance before they head out.

I'm not shocked that healthcare isn't free, but I am floored by that price tag. If she just had an accident, how did they already run up a bill for 150 $0.00? An MRI costs $600, a CT scan costs $667, and even a minor surgery (like tonsils, which is only about $2500) shouldn't break the bank. Where on earth did they get to $150,000?

BTW, if I head over to Canada, does my Medicare cover me there? (I see plenty of people from Canada coming to hospitals here in the States; even some clinics in Mostar send patients here for serious cases). Do I need to pay for extra insurance for Canada, or is my coverage recognized there?

If that’s the kind of attitude we're seeing in Canada, I honestly don't doubt for a second that her club and the fans will raise enough money.
And regarding that whole mess where she tripped over herself and just completely lost it... 😉
I’m currently vacationing in San Francisco, watching how American kids and other Westerners act and the absolute nonsense they think is okay to do—compared to them, our local screw-ups look like saints. ☕
It’s just another case of reckless youth that's going to leave them wondering what happened when they finally hit old age. 😳

Roger Sanders said:...
BTW, if I travel to Canada, will my American health insurance be recognized there? (I see many people from Canada come to hospitals here in the US; even hospitals in places like Little Rock send patients here for more complex cases). Do I need to purchase additional coverage for Canada, or is my domestic insurance valid there?

Of course it isn't recognized.😕
They are different countries.
If a hospital in Little Rock refers a patient here, they must have confirmation from their local health department that they will cover the costs, otherwise, the patient pays out of pocket.
The same applies in reverse.

There are certain countries where the US has formal agreements regarding health insurance recognition. Basically, if you get hurt, they ensure you get the necessary care and stabilization before you can be flown home. Canada is one of those places. In the States, for example, travelers from countries we have these reciprocal agreements with just show their medical documentation or an insurance card—think of it like how people move between states or neighboring countries—and they get treated, while our system settles the bill with their home provider later. So, before you head out, just call Medicare or check with your provider to see what paperwork you need for the specific country you're visiting. 🙂

Since you're clearly shocked, I might as well point out that a single day in the ICU can run anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars if surgery is involved. You have to realize that those billed costs cover everything: the staff on shift, the heavy machinery, all the medical supplies—keep in mind that every single intervention requires at least two pairs of gloves, and those happen constantly in a 24-hour window. Not to mention blood products, meds, lab work, imaging, and the endless list of stuff that gets used up in just one day. 🙂

Others have already touched on transport. The healthcare team accompanying a patient needs funding too—covering their travel, equipment, per diems, gas, and all that nonsense. A flight across the Atlantic takes nine hours, so just think about that for a second...

restlesspanther42 said:There are actually several countries where the US has a consensus on recognizing our health insurance—basically, if someone gets hurt, they get the medical help they need and are stabilized for transport back home. Canada is one of those places. In the States, for example, foreign visitors covered under these agreements just show a doctor's note or an insurance card (like from Canada, Mexico, or other partners), and they receive treatment while the local providers bill their home insurance directly. So, before you head out, just call Medicare or your provider and find out exactly what paperwork you need for the country you're visiting. 🙂

Well, that’s what I’d heard, but I didn't know the specifics. Thanks for clearing that up. So, does that mean in Germany, Austria, Canada, or Canada, my coverage isn't automatic? Do I need to grab extra documentation before I travel? It makes me wonder if there's some kind of international health card, similar to how you'd get an international driver's license through AAA.