[Forplax]

Normally I'm happy to jump into a "bash US healthcare" conversation, but as someone who recently experienced exactly this issue off-insurance, I can tell you that office visit + procedure runs anywhere from $200-$400 out of pocket. Since it's a 5 minute in-office thing, most of that cost would be hidden behind a copay to those with decent insurance.

Nothing like 500Rs, to be sure. But not quite four figures yet.

[bitJericho]

As most people don't have 500 dollars to pay the clinic up front, this would have been an ER visit for the majority of Americans.