In the US, what happens if you sustain a life threatening injury and you don't have insurance?

Jordos@lemmy.world to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 232 points –

Assuming nobody else is at fault

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If someone calls an ambulance and you’re unconscious they will take you the hospital for treatment. You will be responsible for the bill. Including the thousands of dollars for the ambulance ride.

And no, even though you were unconscious and not able to consent to treatment willingly you will still be responsible for the bill. There are ways of dealing with it, but one accident is all it takes for a ruined credit score for some people. It is as fucked up as it sounds.

There are ways of waiving bills, getting financial assistance etc but it’s a total nightmare dealing with hospital billing departments

If I’m unconscious indoors in a safe place then leave me alone I’ll wake up eventually

Unless you are out for a very brief period of time, being unconscious is a seriously bad sign. Like brain hemorrhaging which left untreated will kill you.

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