I pay over $12k in insurance premiums a year. My child has to spend the night on the general floor because the ER wouldn't let him go home after what ended up being a minor pneumonia. We only saw the nurse once, low acuity, respiratory techs only giving him inhaler puffs, probably the healthiest kid in the hospital. Got a $17k bill and they wanted over $4k from me after insurance.
Also found out if they didn't charged my insurance first, my total bill would qualify for 90% off. But that is a double edge sword because my insurance has a max out of pocket each year. The US is broken y'all.
My ambulance ride was not covered and it alone was over 5k.
Even though I asked for a bill both the ambulance company and the insurance company are playing a game of submit a claim then deny a claim till one or the other get tired.
