Americans share the most absurd medical bills they've ever received

According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “the average American spent $9,596 on healthcare” in 2012, which was “up significantly from $7,700 in 2007.” In 2024 the number has risen to $13,493.

That figure was more than twice the average of other developed nations.

With average costs of $146 in 1960 — and adjusting for inflation — that means that costs are now nine times higher than they were just 60 years ago. 

Whichever of the many fixes that have been proposed you personally believe would be the most effective, we can all agree that healthcare costs are currently out of control. This was only highlighted further when Senator Bernie Sanders took to Twitter to ask people to share the most absurd medical bills they've ever received.

People gave some pretty horrendous examples. Doctor and author Jennifer Gunter said that she had been charged $600 for her son who unfortunately died just minutes after being born. He was never enrolled in her insurance plan, leaving her with the bill from the hospital she works for. 

This Twitter user shared a terrifying medical bill of over $100,000. 

Twitter user LaDawn Stuben owes over $90,000 according to this screenshot. 

This grieving mother was left with a hefty bill after her son was treated at the wrong hospital. 

There were also plenty of people paying crazy amounts of money for kidney stones.

A user battling cancer shared the stack of bills and letters that they have to deal with. 

People also shared their experiences with getting charged for out-of-network doctors. 

This grieving mother is reminded of her daughter every time someone phones her to ask for payment. 

It shouldn't cost this much. 

Meanwhile, people outside of the United States are just confused by the whole situation. 

Editor's Note: The article was originally published in September 2019. It has since been updated.