[avgDev]

Uncle was in ICU for 2 week before his death with multiple organ failure. His stay was more than $350k.

Basically the hospital took the house he worked his whole life for.

[Sohcahtoa82]

Every time these stories appear on reddit, there's a flood of non-Americans appalled at the idea.

They just don't understand the FREEDOM that high health care costs provide! /s

[dekhn]

Was your uncle qualified for medicare? We recently had several members need end of life care and they didn't have to pay any of the hospital bills. Many bills we did receive, we called the charging company and they were waived immediately "oh I guess we made a $100K mistake" or "medicare already reimbursed us, that was just a courtesy notice."

[avgDev]

Honestly, I am not sure. I wasn't well versed in personal finance/healthcare/money back then. He destroyed his family and his wife left him. His kids don't really want to discuss that period of their life at all, so we never talk about it.