Reading an article on Splinter News about how someone got sick and American healthcare basically kills people and is super vicious

and I am reminded of the time the hospital refused to let me leave the ER (after 30 minutes of non-treatment, mind you) until I put down a "deposit" of 50% of my bill... which they didn't know the amount of.

So they asked me for 50% of an unknown amount and blocked the door until I paid something.

For the record, they billed me over $2000 *after* my insurance went through.

Yes, the hospital did not treat me at all, but billed me $3000, and my insurance from my employer only covered $1000 so that remaining $2000 was left for me to handle.

I had a feeling it would be expensive so for my "deposit" so I could get home bc I was dizzy and tired from BLOOD LOSS, I cleaned out my HSA ($500). And 3 months later, received a bill for the remaining $1500.

Literally the conversation with the lady blocking the door at the ER while I was dizzy from blood loss:

me: How much do I need to pay so I can go home?

Hospital Admin: How much do you have?

I will remember that to this day, because I called the hospital billing office and my insurance company to discuss her behavior. "She handled it the wrong way, but this is common practice." 💀