A Dominican woman in the U.S. shares how an anxiety attack ended up costing her more than she ever imagined, and her story quickly went viral on TikTok. With over 83.5K likes and thousands of comments, the video by @itscarolindaa has sparked a debate about the healthcare system in the United States.
In the clip, the young woman explains that she began to feel unwell and, not knowing what to do, decided to call an ambulance. She was taken to the hospital, where she was treated with an IV, an aspirin, and water before being discharged. “I had an IV for two hours, a tiny little IV,” she recounts, until she received the bill: $10,126.73.
The amount left her in shock. "When that bill arrived, that’s when I wanted to die… We’re talking about half a million Dominican pesos. I said: no, no, no, what is this?” she expressed in the video. Without health insurance, she is now facing that debt.
The content creator took the opportunity to send a message to those who have just arrived in the United States: “It’s very important to have your health insurance. Here, if you don’t have insurance, you're in trouble. Don’t even think about going to a hospital or calling an ambulance if you don’t have insurance,” she said, insisting that after this experience, she prefers to take a taxi in the future to avoid another situation like this.
The reactions in the comments were a mix of humor and criticism of the system. Many users, especially from Europe, emphasized how fortunate they are to have public health systems. "Thank God I live in Spain, where all of this is free," commented one user. Others joked, "You'll never have an anxiety attack again"; "That's to make you think twice before calling an ambulance."
However, serious recommendations were not lacking. Several users suggested requesting a detailed breakdown of the bill to reduce it, something that, according to some, could lower the amount by up to 70%. Others warned, "Here, not even those with insurance call for an ambulance because the costs are absurd."
The case of @itscarolindaa serves as a reminder of the high cost of healthcare in the United States, especially for those without health insurance. Her story has reignited the debate on access to medical care and the need to be prepared for unexpected expenses.
Filed under:
