Former Surgeon General Slammed with $5,000 ER Bill Despite Insurance, Highlighting Medical Debt Crisis
-
Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams was charged nearly $5,000 for an emergency room visit to treat dehydration, despite having health insurance.
-
Medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., accounting for 67% of filings. U.S. adults owe at least $195 billion in medical debt.
-
Adams suggests analyzing itemized bills to spot erroneous charges, hiring medical bill advocacy companies to negotiate costs, and leveraging credit card medical bill protections.
-
Adams continues fighting his $5,000 bill on his own as Mayo Clinic has not adjusted costs, despite his efforts to dispute charges he feels are inflated.
-
The article spotlights how even the insured can face unexpected medical bills and how difficult it can be to get charges reduced.