In yet another grim episode highlighting the dwindling US healthcare infrastructure, a man took to social media to share how he was made to pay $1,800 (roughly ₹1.65 lakh) despite having “good medical insurance” for a 1.5 hour hospital visit.
‘Suffered a knee injury while ice skating’
Narrating his ordeal, the man said that he had injured his knee while ice skating in New York City with his family on Christmas.
“I felt deep pain in my knee and wondered if I had suffered a fracture. I took a taxi to the hospital and was inside the emergency room for roughly 1.5 hours. The doctors there examined me, took an X-ray and wrapped a crepe bandage around my knee,” he said.
He remarked that roughly three weeks after the hospital visit, his insurance company notified him that he would have to pay $1,800 (roughly ₹1.65 lakh) from his own pocket. The insurance firm said it would cover the rest of the amount as the total bill had mounted to $6,354 (roughly ₹5.8 lakh).
‘American healthcare turns injuries into trauma’
Reactions poured in from netizens who shared the man’s account, with one writing “US system really excels at one thing: turning minor injuries into major financial trauma”.
The user also drew parallels with the healthcare infrastructure in India and Canada.
In India, the same thing would probably cost a maximum of ₹1,000–3,000 (including consultation + medicine), and no one would bat an eye. While in Canada a single-payer would get free service due to their public healthcare system, although the wait might be longer, the user added. “The real injury here isn’t the knee, it’s the wallet,” he wrote.
What are the healthcare policies in the US?
The US has a complex healthcare system with policies shaped by both federal and state governments. Most Americans access healthcare through insurance, which can be private or government-run. Private insurance schemes are usually provided by employers or purchased individually.
Public insurance schemes are government programs, which provide coverage for specific groups. These include Medicare, a federal program for people aged 65+ or with certain disabilities.
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program for low-income individuals and families. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covers children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.