$2800 for a dog bite

[u/sierraamist]

Unfortunately my new puppy bit me right on the lip, it wouldn’t stop bleeding for almost an hour. My sister (a nurse) suggested I go to the hospital instead of urgent care. I called urgent care first, and they said due to the bite being on my lip I would have to go to the hospital and have plastics do the stitches. Went to the hospital, they literally cleaned it up and put a dab of glue on it and sent me on my way. Few weeks later I received a bill for $361 (insurance covered half) which was the bill for the physician. Today, I received a bill for $2475.00. $2330.14 for the emergency department visit, and $751.41 for a “simple procedure”. I called and asked for them to describe the simple procedure and they said it was the glue they used on my lip. All I have to say is wow. Granted my work provides crap insurance. Had I known it wasn’t so severe I would’ve just gone to urgent care. Lesson learned. To top it off, I just got laid off, so this will be a fun bill to pay. Thank you for listening to my rant!

[u/DCRBftw]

Apply for financial assistance/charity care. Report that you are no longer working and have no income. You'll likely have the bill written off or reduced significantly. But yes, emergency rooms are expensive and most people can't justify the cost when it's not a true emergency.