A Mexican resident in the United States (@.darig) has shared her experience about the high costs of healthcare through two viral videos on TikTok. In her videos, she explained how she usually travels to Mexico for medical care, but this time she was forced to go to a hospital in the United States, resulting in a bill of thousands of dollars. "I've never been to the hospital here; I always go to Mexico, but this time I had to go. I feel like it's going to be around three thousand dollars. I was at the hospital for about six hours; they did tests and gave me an IV," she commented before seeing the bill that arrived with the amount owed for the service.
"The total was $1,288.07. All this money for not feeling better; the medicines did nothing for me. They just told me what I had. Here they itemize everything they charged me. Just for going to the ER, it's $1,600. I expected something worse. I don't have insurance or anything, so I'll have to pay this. That's how it is in the United States," she recounted in her first video, resigned.
However, many users commented that it wouldn't be the only bill she would receive, and they were right. Weeks later, this Mexican woman shared the second bill that arrived, an amount even higher than the first. "Many told me it wouldn't be the only bill I'd get, and they were right. Another bill came. $2,350. I think it's the doctor's bill. I'm not sure. But I'm sure more will come. It's crazy. It's so much money for not feeling better. I'm sure another one will come," she added.
Her testimony has sparked an intense debate on social media, highlighting the differences in healthcare costs between the United States and other countries. "In Spain, all of that is free," "Mine came to three thousand five hundred dollars," "I think you even got off cheap," or "Unfortunately, the real American dream that people don't talk about," are some of the reactions to the video.
Understanding Healthcare Costs in the United States
The story of this Mexican resident has raised many questions about the high costs of healthcare in the United States, especially in comparison to other countries. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers to shed light on this issue:
Why are healthcare costs so high in the United States?
Healthcare costs in the United States are high due to various factors including administrative expenses, high costs of medical services and pharmaceuticals, and the lack of price regulation in the healthcare market.
What can individuals do to manage high medical bills?
Individuals can negotiate bills with healthcare providers, check for billing errors, apply for financial assistance programs, and consider medical crowdfunding platforms to manage high medical bills.
How does healthcare in the U.S. compare to other countries?
Healthcare in the U.S. is generally more expensive compared to other countries, many of which have universal healthcare systems that provide free or low-cost medical services to their residents.