If you’re paying more than several hundred dollars for non-admitted treatment you’re being swindled. Outside a few treatments such as dialysis and chemotherapy anything that expensive warrants admission.
Do people generally have a choice what ER they go to? I’ve definitely seen people complain on the internet because they were passed out on the sidewalk and someone called an ambulance on them which stuck them with a large bill.
On one hand, you have doctors wanting to save or improve someone's life. On the other hand, especially when death is the result despite attempts to safe the patient's life, the person/estate has now incurred a cost that was potentially undesired.
[1] First aid training my MIT's Office of Emergency Management
[2] First Aid training my St. Johns Ambulance in London.
I grew up in a rural area and it was a big deal, because the volunteers were EMTs only and meeting the county paramedic could cost $500, and sometimes they would ask for air transport, which was either free (provided by state police) or $5,000+, depending on the day. Insurance pays $0 if you are not admitted.
Yes, people often take themselves to an ER and have more than one within reasonable range.
> I’ve definitely seen people complain on the internet because they were passed out on the sidewalk and someone called an ambulance on them which stuck them with a large bill
The majority of ER visits are not people who had an ambulance summoned when they were unconscious, but, yes, in that case people generally don't have a choice about whether they go to an ER or which one.
There is no way I should be convinced by some fucking insurance company that something like this would be better seen in urgent care. What about the 0.1% of people where it actually is serious?
What if that allergy to peanuts your kid has is actually life threatening? You want the most comprehensive care available at the time available ASAP.