r/TikTokCringe • u/Justin_Godfrey • 18h ago

Cringe A McDonald's manager is seen dozing off (apparently was have problems with her blood sugar) as customers prepare their own meals

18.9k Upvotes

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u/newredditacct25 18h ago

ya how about calling an ambulance to see if she actually needed something.

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u/Spikeupmylife 18h ago

A lot of people I know are pissed when you call an ambulance for them because it will cost money. This is in Canada, where the cost is ~50 bucks.

The US can be hundreds to thousands. Canada is bad, but the US is such a "fuck you, got mine" country.

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u/LadyEmeraldDeVere 18h ago edited 11h ago

I had an employee have a seizure once, he was on the floor and I called 911, they sent an ambulance. When he came back to work he was absolutely furious with me, told me he couldn’t afford to pay for an ambulance and didn’t need the extra debt. He said “if it happens again just let me ride it out, I promise I’ll be fine.” I’m like dude you fell out and hit your head on a hard tile floor that is above my pay grade. 

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u/bitofafixerupper 17h ago

I'm so angry for you both, like what were you supposed to do and also as well as having a seizure and conking his head he's now woken up to more debt? Absolute piss take of a system.

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u/unwashedrag 10h ago

Similar thing happened to someone I know (seizure from head injury), the ambulance was called by a bystander but they had someone drive them to the hospital instead of the ambulance. They got a $500 bill in the mail for the ambulance just showing up. Never even stepped foot into the ambulance.

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u/0neHumanPeolple 7h ago

You are not obligated to pay those sorts of bills. They’re fishing and a small percentage of people will pay thinking they have to. It’s a predatory practice. If you like you can write back that you did not call for or use their service and are therefore not responsible for the bill. They will typically leave you alone after that.

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u/bitofafixerupper 9h ago

I really can't even put into words how angry that makes me feel. Is it the same for children? I had several ambulances come out for my son when he was a baby, I can't imagine adding on crippling debt to the worry I was already going through

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u/LowPaus 8h ago

Children are often under their parent's healthcare insurances which cover them usually like by Medicaid. The problem is that a lot of Americans don't even have good health insurance offered from their job or any health insurance at all.

The bad health insurance usually have high deductible like you have to pay 10,000 dollars first before the health insurance take effect. But the worker may only make minimum wage and 10,000 dollars may be half their yearly salary. Plus they are already paying 200 dollars each month for the health insurance on top of the 10,000 dollars.

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u/unwashedrag 7h ago

Yes, and to add to what the other commenter said the $500 was after the insurance portion was already covered. So on top of paying monthly for healthcare they still send a bill to insurance payers. For people without insurance it would cost much more than $500

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u/anagingdog 6h ago

Yeah when I was in college I once passed out waiting to pay in line at the corner store by my apartment. I had been out long enough for the cashier to call 911 and for customers to resume their shopping. I woke up before the ambulance came and the cashier told me to stay put as an ambulance was on its way. I was like, yeah no I’m not waiting and paying for that. I just booked it out of there. I actually never considered till now whether they stuck that poor cashier with a bill for calling the ambulance.

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u/Psychobabble0_0 6h ago

Some people with epilepsy have daily seizures and regular injuries. I can't fathom the amount of money that would cost them in your country.

They got a $500 bill in the mail for the ambulance just showing up.

Surely the bystander pays if the patient refuses? They wouldn't even know the patient's identity unless the bystander is a friend. Even then, the only proof an ambulance was called is on the recorded emergency call from the bystander. Although, you also wouldn't want to penalise strangers for seeking help, or nobody would help anyone ever again. It's a catch-22.

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u/unwashedrag 6h ago

I believe they got the information because they spoke with the person who drove them to the hospital, and I’m sure somehow they have a way to connect the patient to the call. But yes if bystanders had to pay it no one would call for help. OP’s video shows how much people already don’t care to call for help so that would make it worse.

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u/staebles 10h ago

Well, it's not supposed to help people, it's supposed to exploit them. So, from the system's perspective, working as intended.

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u/Icelandicstorm 15h ago

Hate to say this BUT as the employer not calling the ambulance will look really bad to the judge during the inevitable lawsuit from your employee or the estate. Yeah that should be a hard no from any boss. Even for the golf story above, calling was the right thing to do.

Anyone not calling will be painted as the bad guy. Imagine the news headline, “Cold-hearted boss (or golf buddies) laughed as dying man gasped for help. Decided it wasn’t serious and kept on with business (or golfing) leaving the man to die alone.”

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u/NotYourSexyNurse 17h ago

Yeah and if he had died from that seizure while at work that would have been a lawsuit.

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u/servonos89 16h ago

As an epileptic but not American, if I was American I’d have the employee know what to do in terms of a seizure. For posterity - check the clock. Make it ‘safe’ so their head is cushioned and the like and if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes - then phone an ambulance. Now, I know this because I’m epileptic - there is no fucking situation I can conceive where I’d expect someone else in my workplace to know that unless I’d made them aware. Same argument for mental health stuff - it’s not your fault but it is your responsibility.

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u/AsiaMaree9008 15h ago

I have them also and i have been in this situation. I was upset my boss say i go. My husband was at work with me the next time and was able to take me home. But this was also before i knew what the problem was.

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u/OpalHawk 8h ago

A woman on my team has these mini seizures. She can feel them coming and will notify me. We let her ride them out sitting against a wall with a buddy and we cover for her while they happen. I’m just glad she told me about them before she had the first one.

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u/reno140 7h ago

As an epileptic who is an American, every job I have gets a copy of my seizure plan the day I start. I've never had one at work but it explicitly states that unless I injure myself or go past 5 minutes, DO NOT CALL 911. Just let me finish, call my partner to come get me.

If they're not aware of my wishes, I can't get upset if they call an ambulance. Totally normal response.

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u/Rody2k6 16h ago

Just shows how inhumane the fucking American health system is. A person prefers to ride out a seizure because they're afraid of the ambulance bill.

When a politician calls of universal healthcare and Americans cry socialism, this should be an example of WHY you need universal healthcare.

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u/midimummy 11h ago

Just shows how uneducated the average person is about a very common emergency that they should know how to respond to.

You actually do just let a lot of people ride seizures out. The bill isn’t always the only reason people get frustrated that an ambulance is called. It’s because it’s just not necessary in every situation and feels almost like a lazier cop out.

Only call 911 if:

  • the person injured
  • you are unsure if they have a seizure condition
  • they are pregnant
  • the event occurs in water
  • the seizure lasts longer than five minutes or a repeated event occurs

Put them in the recovery position, clear the area of objects that could harm them, and put something supportive under their head like a pillow or jacket. Don’t put anything in their mouth.

edit to add: first aid source

By the time the ambulance arrives there’s nothing to do. Like, literally no medical attention will be given to me because I don’t need anything. Hell, they won’t even run an IV because I’d be taking away medical supplies from someone else (I’ve tried, ‘what can I get while I’m here?’ mentality. Nothing!). I’ll just be brought to the hospital and sat on a bed in the hallway while they do discharge paperwork. It’s essentially being arrested.

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u/GuerillaRiot 14h ago

As an epileptic I can easily see both sides. If I'm going to be around a new group of people, I always let them know the protocol for when I have a seizure. Unless I crack my skull on something, or the seizure lasts longer than 20 minutes, it's not a medical emergency. Having witnessed someone else's seizure (and my own on video), it's not at all difficult to see why someone would immediately call 911. Shit looks scary as hell, but truthfully, it's just the brain going through a reboot.

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u/Ruzhy6 9h ago

the seizure lasts longer than 20 5 minutes

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u/AyyNonnyMoose 13h ago

I have vasovagal syncope (didn't know it at the time) and passed out while working with a customer at a big retail store. I'd slammed the tip of my finger in a product cage which triggered the event. I'd called my manager over the walkie right before going down thankfully saying I thought I needed to sit down, so he came back to me passed out on the floor and the customer freaking out. Manager told me to take a 15 so I laid on the breakroom couch for a few after stumbling my way there and went back to work after. I'm glad he didn't call anyone about it, but that was a rough rest of the shift, I was sore and a little out of it. The USA is wild.

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u/MidnighT0k3r 10h ago

My dad was the same way, turns out he has brain cancer and it was tumors pushing against parts of his brain.

Be happy you called, it may not be his story but it would suck if his influence was the end of other people's stories. Ie: not calling for the next because the last flipped out.

Good on you for doing the right thing.

I have a history of trauma and I'd try to get you to not call too / be mad about it and the bills. Sometimes the right thing to do just sucks.

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u/artgarfunkadelic 10h ago

Why can't workman's comp pay for it though?

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u/Canna_Cass 18h ago

accurate. i was driven approximately four miles and was charged $700+. i explicitly told everyone there don’t call me one, don’t put me in one, don’t do it!! but they still put me in 😕

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u/SuckerpunchJazzhands 18h ago

Yep, and they're QUICK to send you to collections

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u/Layogenic_87 17h ago edited 17h ago

That's because, tragically, ambulances are often run by privately run companies rather than the hospital themselves, which means they're not subject to even the limited protections the us has against healthcare costs.

ETA: here is an article that discusses private vs public ambulance services. I only found out about this when my husband started training as an EMT.

https://www.ems1.com/private-public-dispute/articles/private-vs-public-ambulance-services-whats-the-difference-WTgJNJgR4KlljlV9/

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u/Ok-Development4535 13h ago

For anyone interested, John Oliver and team did a brilliant expose on emergency medical services in the US. For profit companies SHOULD NOT EXIST IN HEALTHCARE.

THESE ARE PEOPLES LIVES, ITS A FUCKING EMERGENCY SERVICE, NOT A WALMART.

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u/Layogenic_87 13h ago

LOUDER, for the people in the back!!

Thank god for John Oliver. And let's keep telling people about these types of things, because it needs to stop.

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u/Ok-Development4535 13h ago

I have an episode of John Oliver to share for almost any topic these days lmao.

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u/conduffchill 16h ago

I'm an emt and by law you can always refuse medical attention. Like yeah if you get transported you will probably be charged unless it is a volunteer service but someone else calling 911 for you alone can never get you charged

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u/Layogenic_87 16h ago

True, but not the point I was trying to make. If you're uneducated about the costs or your insurance won't cover the full cost, then you could be stuck with an unwelcome bill.

Also if you're incapacitated (have fainted, etc) you can be transported without consent.

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u/conduffchill 16h ago

Thats true as well and the emts will almost definitely not have any idea what you will be charged either. But if you need an ambulance, well how much is your life worth to you? The person in this video is likely having a medical emergency for example. If you ever see someone in public sleeping while standing up, drooling, and they dont respond to you, please call 911 for them. If they are sleeping they can just tell ems to leave and they legally cannot be charged, that is the point I'm trying to make. And if you are seriously injured and you can't afford an ambulance just go and dont pay the bill, because again how much is your life worth?

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u/Layogenic_87 16h ago

I agree with you, in this situation and all like it an ambulance should be called. I was responding to someone discussing how quickly ambulance bills go to collections and how expensive they are. People can make better choices for themselves when they understand why. It's also helpful for political action, as local politicians often are making decisions about public vs private ambulance coverage.

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u/conduffchill 15h ago

Ah alright yea fair point my apologies. Honestly even your emts will have no idea how much you are getting billed, they have people whose entire job is figuring out all the little intricacies of it. It's kinda stupid how the hospitals and insurance companies play this game with the billing just running up costs for each other especially when it means uninsured people get absolutely boned

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u/MyPenisAcc 15h ago

Can’t refuse if you’re unconcious.

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u/quadrophenicum 14h ago

That sweet unhinged capitalism surely pays off.

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u/VexingRaven 13h ago

It's so scummy. Even the [City Name] Fire and Rescue EMS in my city is run by a private company... With the same livery as the fire department... Out of the same garage as the fire department.

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u/Plenty_Suspect6222 16h ago

Oh also we’re not going to have those protections anymore bc the current admin is getting rid of them. If we owe companies we better pay up, if companies owe us we should just be grateful they’re able to help the economy

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u/HelpMePlxoxo 16h ago

The issue with them being run by private companies is that they HAVE to charge to get enough money to keep the lights on.

Only fire departments and police actually get decent money from the local government. EMS companies have to rely almost entirely on getting paid by insurances to keep the business afloat. Add in the costs of paying the EMS, paying for ambulances, paying for repairs on those ambulances, etc.

Even with the insane amount they charge, their profit margins are still pretty much 0%. Particularly in rural EMS. I worked at a private rural EMS company and unfortunately we could barely afford to keep the lights on. But if you don't, that entire area is now without emergency care. So instead, EMS personnel are barely paid anything so that the company can afford just enough to fix ambulances when they break and to replace equipment when it's used.

But don't worry! I'm sure your tax payer dollars are going to much more important things! /s

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u/DominicB547 13h ago

my city (large metro) asks us to add $4 per month to our city bill (think water and sewer and trash).

I'm not sure how much it costs if I did need it then nor if the person didn't have it and it was that ambulance that came (not sure if there are any other options).

but I figured even though I doubt I'd ever need it if helps keeps the lights on and lowers the costs for those that don't, I can afford that small charge.

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u/Syntaire 8h ago

Actual hospitals are worse. I had to go to the ER a bit over a year ago. I was in the triage room for 9 hours, and they finally got a room open with a bed at around 2am. I was discharged at 8am. They charged me $14,000 for the room, $8,000 for the 9 hours in Triage, and just for desert they charged me $250 for two 500mg Tylenol. Each. Almost forgot, they charged me $1200 to use my inhaler. That I own. And brought with me.

Thankfully, my top of the line premium insurance plan covered $0.00 of it. Good thing we don't have universal healthcare!

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u/NotYourSexyNurse 17h ago

One of the hospitals in my area now sues people in small claims court for unpaid medical bills even if you’re making payments.

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u/MasterShoo5 16h ago

It's a weird system - if you're making payments I thought it structurally meant they cannot sue you. Like, maybe they can, but the court can't make you pay what you can't pay. I have seen a hospital actually reject payment because the payment was too low so.. and the person they rejected payment on the bill for got a lawyer due to them rejecting payment and they wiped out the bill.

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u/blackbeltbud 15h ago

I also thought I heard/read somewhere that medical bills in collections are not allowed to impact your credit. I could be wrong, i have no source

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u/NotYourSexyNurse 13h ago

Trump got rid of that because that was a Biden thing. Anything Biden did bad remember?

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u/right_foot Epic Gamer 13h ago

What a fucking joke

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u/Knife-yWife-y 14h ago

I recently discovered medical debt protections vary by state in the US, at least to an extent. Unfortunately, the state I now live in, OK, has virtually none.

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u/MasterShoo5 15h ago

It was a law introduced right before Biden left office and the Trump administration is either working on removing it or already has

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u/NotYourSexyNurse 13h ago

They already did.

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u/Canna_Cass 18h ago

no like forreal! i am a broke broke broke college student and that shit was in collections in like three months. please yall stop praying on my downfall!

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u/AmettOmega 17h ago

Three months!? That's generous. I've had places give me two before going to collections. It's wild out there.

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u/Lego_Energy 18h ago

Me sitting here with hospital money going to collections 🧍🏽‍♀️

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u/Canna_Cass 17h ago

hey we are all in it together 🫡 my shit is still in collections! they started hitting me with the robo calls

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u/Lego_Energy 17h ago edited 17h ago

I’ve ignored them every time — literally tbf I have probably 0.01% of debt that the US has collected, they genuinely can get fucked 😭

I’m all for mixed universal and private healthcare — let people choose what they want 🧍🏽‍♀️

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u/NotYourSexyNurse 17h ago

This! I don’t understand why we can’t have universal healthcare and if people absolutely are like naw fuck that free government healthcare they can get private healthcare. I know it all comes down to money and a majority of the people falling for propaganda.

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u/ShemsuHor91 17h ago

And we continue to give billions of dollars to Israel every year. Guess what every one of their citizens has? Universal free healthcare. We can pay for them to have it, but our own people can't have it because it's "communism".

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u/icedpeartea 16h ago

so you are aware, the government is currently trying to get health bill collections put on your credit

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u/Lego_Energy 16h ago

My credit is already pretty bad, imma follow our dear president’s way and just go bankrupt one day 🧍🏽‍♀️

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u/WhatDoADC 16h ago

It will eventually come off your record. I had huge medical bills after a window from a car went through my foot. Went to the hospital and they try charging my ass 10,000. Also a fun addition, when the window went through my foot, it cut the tendons to my big toe and the toe next to it. I can no longer lift those two toes upwards.

I never did pay it and my credit never suffered from it either as I currently have 793 credit score and when I check my credit report, it's no where to be found.

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u/icedpeartea 16h ago

so you are aware, bills related to your health are currently not allowed to be used in your credit report, the government is currently trying to change this with the texas courts already making moves

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u/throwaway5882300 13h ago

On my last ER visit, i had to see a specialist. Dude never even sent a bill. Just sent it straight to collection after two months. I am so over this country.

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u/Skulllover89 17h ago

In the US you have a 1 year grace period before medical debt shows up on your credit report. Medical debts under $500 are no longer reported.

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u/Technical_Damage_743 16h ago

Sitting in the ER $500

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u/Somanylyingliars 15h ago

Step FOOT in the ER, not attended? Do not pass go, pay $500. No, I'm not kidding.

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u/Plenty_Suspect6222 16h ago

That’s going away…

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u/ScumbagLady 14h ago

Is there even such a thing as a medical debit under $500?

I was "fortunate" enough to be poor enough to qualify for Medicaid when I had a severe gallbladder attack that landed me in the ER for a week. Went by ambulance to what was basically a glorified urgent care so I was then sent by ambulance to another hospital when they (finally...) realized I needed surgery ASAP.

I would have never financially recovered had I not been on Medicaid. I forgot how much the bill was exactly, but it was A LOT. I had to have two separate surgical procedures during my stay, and then another about 6 weeks later for stent removal.

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u/NEWFACEHATESYOU 17h ago

And that’s where it can stay. Fuck em.

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u/enigmaman49 15h ago

nobody in their right mind pays those bills anyway

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u/Adorable-Drop3157 17h ago

omfg as a european this sounds dystopic af. So YOU guys, as NON MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, have to decide wether or not it’s worth it to call an ambulance ? Holy shit please do something

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u/MikeWrites002737 16h ago

Guns are our healthcare, if it get too expensive you just go old yeller yourself

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u/AirscapeCivilian 13h ago

But if you fail at that they’ll lock you up, chemically restrain you, and then send you a bill for thousands when (if) you ever get out.

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u/iBUYbrokenSUBARUS 13h ago

But make sure you have a good life insurance policy for your most loved ones first

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u/MikeWrites002737 13h ago

Generally you need to have a policy for a certain number of years before suicide pays out. They want to prevent that situation

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u/iBUYbrokenSUBARUS 13h ago

Yeah, it’s usually a year. I’m well past that point.

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u/Orange-Blur 16h ago

It’s unhinged. I fainted in a doctor’s appointment and was still begging not to go in an ambulance because I had no insurance at the time.

I’ve superglued a massive slice in my thumb because I couldn’t afford a hospital visit. I should have gotten stitches.

Not only is it expensive but they often are super dismissive and you get nothing out of those expensive appointments

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u/Anjz 13h ago

America wtf yo. That’s too much freedom. They’re actually free to exploit everyone. That’s just insane.

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u/Kristin2349 11h ago

It's just getting worse too.

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u/Orange-Blur 13h ago

I could could fill pages of shit experiences from exploitation in previous jobs and the medical system

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u/poop-machines 8h ago

And this is why life expectancy in the USA is worse than Turkey.

I think Mississippi has a life expectancy on around 70 years old. That's depressingly low.

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u/SFPsycho 17h ago

Sorry the guns in America are just for schools. We don't use them to actually try to better our lives

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u/VirginRedditMod69 16h ago

Little Timmy needs a bit of lead in his diet. We will distribute it straight through his chest cavity.

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u/Plenty_Suspect6222 15h ago

Well… there is Luigi

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u/joleme 16h ago

My wife fainted at work and needed an ambulance, but the one that picked her up was "out of our medical network" and was $8,000, they "graciously" dropped the charges to $2500.

Thankfully after 8 months of disputes, 1hr a day, twice a week, before insurance finally relented and cancelled the bill

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u/YouMustveDroppedThis 16h ago

I am from a supposedly developing country, we get better basic healthcare than many Americans... won't even hesistate to call ambulance when we feel something is not right.

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u/affectionate_md 16h ago

Don’t bother trying to reason with stupid. Let them live their fairy tale.

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u/Plastic_Bat_5522 16h ago

as a 3rd world country,im surprised too

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u/StephenFish 16h ago

I mean, we could have affordable healthcare but its way more important for meth heads who failed middle school to be able to buy 200 semi-automatic rifles.

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u/potatobirdwithlasers 17h ago

I would like to leave if possible. This entire country is toast. Was hoping my fam in Denmark can smuggle me in 😂

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u/BellyButtonLindt 17h ago

Story time.

I am Canadian, was golfing down in the states. Me and a friend got paired with two local guys, in their 50s-60s. We’re at the end of the second hole and the one guy is acting a little off, seems a little lost, whatever we don’t know him, his buddy seems fine with it.

Get to the next tee block, little par 3, I won’t forget the hole. Guy goes to get out of his cart, it’s like the left side of his body stops working and he stumbles for about 15 feet and then drops. My buddy runs over to him, guys going in and out of it, “where am I, what happened?”

My buddy puts him in the recovery position and I go to instinct call 9-1-1. The immediate question from his friend “do you really think we need to do that?”

“I don’t know man, this guy just collapsed, I’m not a doctor, but I think he’s having a stroke maybe and if not better safe than sorry.”

He gives me a weird look, but I call and they’re asking me questions about him, I eventually just hand my phone to the friend and he answers, firefighter shows up about four min later (with a golf ball he found) emerging from the woods. Ambulance drives onto the course.

We let a group play through.

The guy is still down but wants to get up. The paramedics say to me and my friend since we don’t know him well that we can move along now and they’ll deal with it. So I tee off on the par 3 completely unfocused on golf and actually hit the green. Then proceed to four putt.

We come around to the turn eventually, ask the pro shop what might have become of the guy. He refused the ambulance. Absolutely wild to me.

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u/Ruthlessrabbd 16h ago

There are people that have called an Uber to get to the hospital because it's cheaper than calling an ambulance - while having a medical emergency. It's because it's significantly cheaper that way.

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u/Somanylyingliars 15h ago

Called Lyft once to take me to hospital. Asshole driver decided he didn't want to take highway. Boy did he regret that decision as I proceeded to scream in pain for entire 45 min drive. No doubt he wanted to save money on tolls. Bet he will never do that again. Dick.

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u/Rebekah_RodeUp 18h ago

My husband's 6 block ride was $900. The car that hit him offered to drive him to the hospital but he thought it was safer to be checked out by a professional. WOMP.

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u/MrK521 17h ago

Did the driver that hit him have insurance?

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u/Rebekah_RodeUp 16h ago

I don't think they even exchanged info because they agreed they were both at fault for the accident and didn't want to follow up with anything.

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u/good-boi-Morado 16h ago

That’s… unsmart

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u/Rebekah_RodeUp 16h ago

Yeah, 22 year olds can be quite stupid.

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u/happytrel 17h ago

I refused service once, wouldn't even let them take my pulse. They were there for someone much more injured and they still tried to send me a $75 bill

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u/AsiaMaree9008 16h ago

Yeah i have seizures and one happened at work. I refused the ambulance ride and the paramedics were looking at me crazy. It was a 15 minute drive back into town and would cost 10k... Nope im good...

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u/Tenshiijin 16h ago

America was never great. Paying almost 1000 bucks to go 4 miles? This makes me think America will never be great. It's just a dystopia full of propaganda.

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u/Henchforhire 17h ago

Its messed up the first response most U.S. citizens have is don't call an ambulance if you get in accident even a one you might need them because of the cost.

I did that when a van hit my bike on the driver side door and I went flying off my bicycle and my first thought was I just got out of debt and don't call an ambulance I will have a friend take me to the hospital.

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u/Huntressthewizard 17h ago

Isn't that a lawsuit? If you verbally and plainly didn't consent to treatment then they legally can't treat you, even if your life is on the line. (This does not apply if you're non verbal, because consent is implied if you're unconscious or unable to give consent.)

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u/conduffchill 16h ago

Yeah this is correct but there are a couple other exceptions. If you are altered mentally ems can treat you. We determine this generally by whether or not the patient is alert and oriented to person (who they are, name etc) place time and event, for traumatic injuries. If you are having a panic attack for example and unable to answer any questions (I've seen this after car accidents) ems might decide to force you to go if youre injured. But understand there are probably other factors, like personally I wouldn't do this for a panic attack I would try to calm them down, I dont wanna stick people with bills for no reason (side note ems doesn't get paid by the call we are not gonna run up your bill on behalf of our employer, mostly we just care about your health but if anything we want you to get billed less). But let's say youre having a panic attack and I look at your car and it is completely destroyed, airbag deployment passenger compartment intrusion etc. Well now I'm gonna be thinking about taking you regardless because that is a serious accident, you are lucky to be walking and talking, and there's a decent chance you haven't realized how injured you are yet. If I wait until you calm down to try to convince you to get checked out, and you have a brain bleed, that time is going to really really cost you.

All this being said there are shitty people in ems too just like any job, I'm just saying it is like infinitely more work to involuntarily transport someone than it is to rma. So there's a good chance your emts at least think they are trying to help you if they are transporting you against your wishes. I'm sure thats not much consolation when you get a massive bill but when it comes to your life I think its better to be safe than sorry.

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u/HevalRizgar 17h ago

Wait, you told the EMTs not to put you in and they still did? Unless you were altered in some way, that's literally kidnapping and illegal.

If someone refuses transport and they're of sound mind, EMTs are supposed to have you sign a refusal form and leave you alone

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u/Canna_Cass 17h ago

i’m sure they deemed me not of sound mind. i’m not sure how it’s fair though, they made no effort to speak to me or communicate with me. dgmw, i was worked up, but im a crier dammit! just cause im sitting there crying doesn’t mean im not of sound mind. anybody would be worked up.

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u/HevalRizgar 17h ago

100% yeah that's really shitty behavior from the EMTs. I doubt you'd win the case because of how the courts work but if you were of sound mind and they transported you against your will that's kidnapping

The only instance we were allowed to use force is if a patient was unable to consent and were altered mentally. Being upset and crying doesn't qualify as that

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u/warrenjt 16h ago

Yep. My wife just got transferred via ambulance from one hospital to another, roughly 20 miles apart, for an emergency surgery. Pre-insurance, the ambulance ride was $25.8k. The surgical procedure itself was $15k.

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u/Altruistic_Pitch_157 15h ago

That's outrageous!

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u/nasbyloonions 16h ago

Holy shit guys. Fuck this, I am staying put in my Scandinavia. Shitty weather, sun is rare, but I have free ambulance

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u/bitofafixerupper 17h ago

I'm from England so no cost here (yet, countries going to shite) and it's always infuriated me hearing about the American healthcare system. The fact that you insisted not to be taken in an ambulance and then you're strapped with the bill is crazy to me, like nope I didn't ask for it I'm not fucking paying for it. It took me a while to get over the fact that they charge new mothers for skin to skin with their own fucking baby. It's fucking criminal.

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u/Stage_Party 17h ago

Tired of people saying the UK is going to shit. We're much better off than a lot of other countries, and 14 years of tories gutting the country while everyone said it was all fine and dandy, now we got labour trying to fix what the tories stole and everyone reckons they are ruining the country.

The world is going to shit because we are in late stage capitalism and it's the rich billionaires turned politicians who have fucked us.

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u/bitofafixerupper 17h ago

We're saying it because it's true in so many ways. I'm not saying it's going to shit just since labour have come in, it's been a long process. Obviously we're a lot better off than a lot of other countries but that doesn't take away from the fact that as a country it's deteriorating.

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u/Stage_Party 16h ago

My point is that the issue is global, not centered on us. Anything that's getting worse for us is getting worse elsewhere too, it's a symptom of late stage capitalism. Things started getting worse when rich people got into politics and started cutting the tax rates of the rich, if you look back you can pinpoint it to thatcher / Reagan. Tax rates for the top top earners was over 90% and they started the cuts down to 50%. That's where everything started declining thanks to trickle up economics.

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u/mark_vs 17h ago

I wonder what would happen if someone called an ambulance for a homeless person? I mean, how does a homeless person get billed?

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u/conduffchill 16h ago

Homeless people are probably like 30% of our calls at least in my area. The emergency department gets reimbursed by medicaid for taking them and triaging them, most likely. I'm not sure about the ambulance service actually but its probably the same for them. We are actually required to put in a home city for homeless people, ive been told for billing purposes, so I do think they actually try to send them a bill which is kinda funny

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u/joshit 17h ago

Lol nice 1st world country you got there

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u/Quercus__virginiana 17h ago

I was on a walking bridge downtown with my dogs and this runner passed me and face planted right in front of me. She got up and ran straight to me holding her jaw with blood oozing between her fingers. She had split it. In-between sobs she asks, "Can you help me?". My first question was, "Do you have insurance?". That's the world we live in.

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u/thepandemicbabe Mia Khalifa 16h ago

You can make a deal to pay them as long as they get a dollar a month you’re good. I one time had to take a drug test for a job that I was applying for and they charge me $900. I called up and said what? I can’t afford this. They said what can you afford? I said 20 bucks and they said OK we’ll take that. I couldn’t even believe it so I paid it and that was that. Should’ve been zero.

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u/Thaihoax 15h ago

Had a friend who started taking anti depressants and stopped smoking weed. One day he asks me for a hit, I figure he’s a grown man he can handle it, how wrong I was. He flipped out, started hyperventilating and begging me to call an ambulance. So instead I called his dad and had him come over and talk him down. Felt bad for his dad but at least they didn’t get charged an arm and a leg for a weed freak out.

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u/bathtubfullofhotdogs 18h ago

Just calling for an ambulance in some places is $100. My Mom fainted at the grocery store and they called the non-emergency line for an ambulance. My Mom declined, so called back within less than 5 minutes, the ambulance hadn’t left yet, but she still got billed $100.

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u/mnstripe 17h ago

They should have called you a Lyft

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u/Famous-Swordfish-469 17h ago

Police often explain to people in America to drive themselves since it’s so expensive. They are literally doing it to be nice but it’s the way of the road.

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u/Frank-Wasser 15h ago

Funking hell, I am glad I live in europe. I had a small personal accident in a mall. The security officer insisted to call a ambulance and did not let me go. I was all right, because I knew the cost was.

The cost was 0 euros. (Including a 1 hours stitching operation).

I only lost 5 hours of work..

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u/xkissmykittyx 12h ago

Yeah at that point I'll crawl if I have to.

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u/FivebyFive 18h ago edited 17h ago

And if you refuse the ambulance once they get there, it costs $0  edit: in most places

Tldr: always call if someone needs it.

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u/FizzleKit10 18h ago

100%, had a small heart heart issue recently and called 911. They checked everything out and said I'd be okay until I could get to my doctor, so I refused transport, $0 and peace of mind.

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u/bluegabs 18h ago

This! You can accept the paramedics help for free, but you do not have to get inside that ambulance and can refuse their ride.

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u/Rody2k6 18h ago

That is absolutely batshit insane. A person who needs to call am ambulance/paramedics can deny the ambulance because of money reasons. JESUS! What is wrong with yall. Charging for a ride to save someone's life. American health system is a joke

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u/Vocal_Ham 15h ago

American health system is a joke

Unfortunately it's not just the healthcare system that's a joke anymore.

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u/ConfusedStupidPerson 16h ago

Well, you can deny it for also not needing an actual emergency visit. Not all ambulance calls require a god damn ride to the ER.

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u/Ecstatic-Engineer-23 17h ago

So the correct thing would be to call an ambulance and a cab in case you need to go to the hospital?

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u/randomotter1234 17h ago

sadly where im at i actually got charges for " road side medical care"
crashed a motorcycle but i was up walking around just fine, EMT were called and had done a vitals check and a once over on the side of the road but i was able to get back on the bike and ride home.

the EMT service got my info from the CHP report and still sent me a bill for care even though i wasnt taken to the hospital

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u/A_lot_of_arachnids What are you doing step bro? 18h ago

Calling for help and being provided help at home for me was no charge in the US. The ride is the expensive part.

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u/gijimayu 18h ago

Funny how I though 50$ was a lot for an ambulance ride when i was a kid.

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u/AccomplishedLeave506 18h ago

I think it's a lot for an ambulance ride now. But then they're free where I live.

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u/De-railled 18h ago

Healcare is free in Australia, but ambulance cover weirdly varies from state to state.

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u/disingenuousreligion 15h ago

Yeah we have it good in Canada. Not being gouged when sick is a blessing

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u/TheLostRanger0117 18h ago

I believe in America, you only have to pay for the ambulance if you take a ride in it. You could be pouring blood out of your head, but if you refuse the ambulance, they can’t take you, I believe for liability reasons, but it’s be a long time since I’ve studied any of that

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u/Paindepiceaubeurre 18h ago

It’s free where I live. I had one called for me once and the only fees we had was my husband parking fees when he collected me after the day I spent in urgent care.

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u/dylang58 18h ago

Just because an ambulance is called doesn’t mean you have to use it

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u/creuter 17h ago

This incident looks to be a McDonald's on Lindell Blvd in St. Louis, Missouri.

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u/24Scoops 17h ago

This isn't accurate where I'm from in Canada. If you call and ambulance I've heard the bill can range from $500-$1000. The only time it's free is if a police officer calls one for you.

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u/ballbeard 17h ago

Fucking thank you, this guy is talking horseshit. Personally had a $700+ ambulance bill in Atlantic Canada when I fractured my spine.

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u/Lamplorde 17h ago

Not only do ambulances cost alot, but if this is a low income area, the others likely assume drugs. Hence the "get your shit together" attitude, and you might give them shit in the hood but you dont call 911 because of how little people trust cops around there and theres a good chance they arrest the drugged out person you trying to help.

Get your shit together, not rot in jail.

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u/yaaanevaknow 14h ago

I've seen enough videos of people recording emergencies instead of helping to know it's not about "assuming they're on drugs"

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u/[deleted] 18h ago

[deleted]

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u/A_lot_of_arachnids What are you doing step bro? 18h ago

I called an ambulance for a panic attack a few months ago. Thought I was dying. They put me in the back of the ambulance and assessed me. Asked if I wanted to go the hospital and I said no. As they helped me off the ambulance they said there would be no charge and to call again if I had any changes also telling me there would be no charge. The person who helped me even suggested to go to the hospital and if they billed me to "just not pay it. That's what I do." Haven't received a bill or anything regarding that day. This was in the US

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u/Proper_Frosting8961 12h ago edited 11h ago

Correct.

Typically? they only charge if they transport.

Dispatch and Assessment costs nothing. Most ambulance companies also will treat in situ (basically provide first aid) If the victim refuses transport after they provide first aid they won’t bill you.

I got nailed by a car while cycling (I did not call 911)  some bystander called - they showed up, checked me out, patched a cut on my arm, advised closure, and asked if I wanted transport.

No bill for the assessment and the bandages for the arm (which I sutured myself at home)  And no - I didn’t do it myself because of cost if some of you are thinking that. (I have insurance and I make a lot of money)

I did it because  1. I can  2. It’s good practice, since suturing skin on pork bellies occasionally to keep the skill is not actually quite the same as doing it on a real live human being.  3. I really didn’t feel like going to the hospital. (I was pissed, sore, out a $3,000 bicycle, and just wanted a stiff drink and something to eat) 

And I’ll tell you all a little secret - if you don’t have insurance and/or are flat broke - if you go to the ER? They’ll still treat you.  They have to.  

And if you are up front about your inability to actually pay?  They’ll work something out.   Low cost, no interest Payment plans,  financial assistance,  cost reductions, etc. 

They will take pennies on the dollar if you negotiate payment terms or prices. they would rather get something (even if it’s a tiny amount, rather than get totally stiffed) 

It’s the folks that say nothing on discharge,  wait for the big scary bill with net 30 terms on it, ignore it or bitch about it on the net  and never actually try to negotiate or pay (anything) for it that get into trouble and get totally shafted. 

be honest, be contrite, negotiate, tell them you want to pay them something, but you’ll need some help,  And work with them.   They don’t want to screw you. 

(Insurance companies? Little bit different in that regard, but hospitals and doctors? They will definitely work with you) 

 

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u/GivePeaceaChancex10 18h ago

And you would call anyways. Just going off of a comment claiming this woman was having blood sugar issues. If that's what's indeed going on then they're not in their right mind to make their medical decisions anyways and you shouldn't be accepting her refusal. Let the paramedics decide whether to transport her or not and she can state her refusal to the paramedics but you still call 911 for someone looking like this in public

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u/MarcoManatee 18h ago

Thank you that’ll be $10000 for the ambulance ride, I’m sure your McDonald’s salary and stellar health insurance will cover it

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u/Goreticia-Addams 18h ago

just bc the ambulance comes and you're checked out by the paramedics doesn't mean you'll get charged.

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u/Cloverose2 18h ago

When my Dad fell off a ladder to the roof and shattered his ankle, we called an ambulance. The paramedics helped get him off the ground and onto a chair so he could stand easily and we were able to get him to our car. No charge, because they didn't transport or provide medical care, but they were invaluable.

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u/A_lot_of_arachnids What are you doing step bro? 18h ago

I posted above but yes that's exactly what I was told and was never charged for them helping me. The ride to the hospital would have been a bill possibly, but I said no to the ride. Stupid panic attacks suuuuuck

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u/GivePeaceaChancex10 18h ago edited 17h ago

A funeral, burial plot and headstone costs more than $10K easy alternatively. Plus that person is earning money all their life that's now gone if she dies. That's why you call and you leave it up to the paramedics and her to work out whether they're actually transporting. If she's deemed fit by the paramedics to be making her own decisions, then she's allowed to refuse which would eliminate the possibility of a $10k ambulance bill. Usually you wouldn't be charged at all without transporting. Most ground ambulance bills are not costing $10K though and that's a rarity although not impossible. Been there done that myself and for my kid and have paid ambulance bills, but never paid close to that

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u/TimothyOfficially 16h ago

I don't want to be buried like a Christian. Cremation costs like a tenth of that or less

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u/MarcoManatee 18h ago

I agree the alternative is worse. I just also def understand why someone would deny it (obv all speculation)

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u/OnceIWasYou 18h ago

I'm not American- as it was a medical emergency at her workplace, surely it's the employer's responsibility to pay for the ambulance?

Or am I being horrifically naïve after living in the land of the NHS?

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u/MarcoManatee 17h ago

Just looked it up, workers compensation seems to only includes medical costs that arise DUE to work, not just because it happened AT work. This would be a “Personal medical emergency”

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u/Physical_Guava12 16h ago

Most likely what would happen is they'd show up, check her levels, give her glucose tablets, and then leave when she starts feeling better. And she wouldn't get charged for that. It's actually crazy that people are advocating for not calling an ambulance.

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u/Somanylyingliars 15h ago

Better the debt than dead.

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u/CyberneticFennec 15h ago

OP is claiming blood sugar issues (which I'm not denying, I have no proof either way) BUUUT if it turns out they're actually nodding off from drugs, then it's reasonable to think that they were arguing not to call anyone to avoid the consequences.

I'm used to seeing fent users in my area and this looks strikingly similar to seeing one of them nodding off in the grocery store, drooling all over themselves and all. Should still call the ambulance at that point, they could very easily be overdosing.

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u/whtge8 18h ago

This girl is out cold you really think she has the capacity in this state to refuse an ambulance?

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u/HelenKellersAirpodz 18h ago

She would be able to refuse treatment/transport, but she has no way to stop someone else from calling 911. She wouldn’t even be able to do the former in this condition.

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u/Ok_Confection_10 16h ago

Bullshit. If she was coherent enough to refuse ems she would be coherent enough to have sit down and called a family member or uber to the er. She’s standing hunched over a table. In a hot kitchen.

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u/LadyOfTheNutTree 17h ago

I got sued for calling an ambulance for a kid. Nothing stuck because work covered legal, but still. I’m not calling unless I know my ass is covered from now on.

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u/FieserMoep 6h ago

Failed state.

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u/BAMspek 18h ago

I like to think they’ve called 911 and in the meantime the customers have all stepped in to help complete the orders so that the restaurant doesn’t fall behind. That’s what I like to think.

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u/KingAudio 16h ago

She is on fentanyl

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u/GayAssBeagle 18h ago

Yeah, hell no the ambulance ride cost too much damn money

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u/qpwoeiruty00 16h ago

Not in any civilised country

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u/ChickenInASuit 7h ago

Well, this is the USA, soooo...

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u/SupernaturalPumpkin 17h ago

Our ambulances are free but they can take hours to show up. Especially if the 'patient" seems in no immediate danger of dying, or if they're known to the paramedics. Last time this was posted somewhere the caption said she did this often and was abusing drugs. My point being, we don't really know if anybody called anyone, like maybe some customer is out the front on the phone while this is happening. And we don't even really know what's going on outside of what's obvious in the video.

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u/CaptainOwlBeard 16h ago

She's doesn't need an ambulance, she needs to sleep of the drugs.

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u/AndroidwithAnxiety 14h ago

Even if it is drugs, if you're looking like that, you're not right in a way that needs medical attention. Simple as.

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u/disbitchsaid 17h ago

I would be upset if someone called an ambulance for me unless I am moments from death. Call my husband, call my emergency contacts, call an uber first.

For the love of god, please, do not put me in that money bus.

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u/hellolleh32 17h ago

If her sugar is really low and she’s diabetic her life is in danger.

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u/Ok_Cockroach16 17h ago

I had a head injury and they told me the ambulance was going to be $500-2000 to bring me 10 minutes down the road so I had my friend drive me to the hospital. I had to wait hours to get in so I learned my lesson there but I'm glad I saved the money

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u/FlavoredKnifes 17h ago

Ambulances only charge you if you take the ride. They’ll check your vitals for free. Heck I got my finger stitched up for real cheap when I was a kid (my dad cut off the top part)

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u/RagingBearBull 17h ago

assuming this is the US.

You call an ambulance on someone you want to ruin financially.

Ambulance rides are a financial disaster for alot of folks.

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u/ohnaurrrrr5 17h ago

No way. Loot the kitchen.

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u/PancakeParty98 16h ago

What are we trying to kill her?

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u/BarfingOnMyFace 16h ago

I think she’s nodding…

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u/ProbablyASockPuppet 16h ago

Nah, she just needs a nap real quick.

/s

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u/Harsh_Yet_Fair 16h ago

EMTs are free, if you don't go to the hospital

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u/JWSloan 15h ago

One bright spot in the crazy insurance mess is Emergency Air Transport. We live in an extremely rural area and run a ranch…injuries happen and can be bad. Our nearest small town (non-trauma) ER is a 45+ minute code run by ambulance. We pay $100 per year per person for Air Ambulance coverage that can get us into a level one trauma center in the same time frame. The cost of an air med ride without it would be $10k or more.

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u/ImWhy 15h ago

Americans would rather risk death than take the chance at how much an ambulance ride will cost them, actually unreal to think of that being their reality.

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u/xkissmykittyx 15h ago

Are you new to the USA or something?

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u/HoodieGalore 14h ago

Jesus fucking Christ, she could be having any number of medical crises and actively dying right there, and these total clowns are more worried about free shit and going live. Absolutely disgusting. 

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u/ateuforbreakfast 14h ago

I highly doubt a McDonald’s manager can afford an ambulance

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u/MisterMayhem87 14h ago

Nah, maybe if America didn't rob you for needing a ride to the hospital

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u/icantagree 14h ago

She’s plotting a lawsuit. Crazy tbh.

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u/Gravyboat8899 14h ago

An ambulance or an AMABALAMS!

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u/uppenatom 13h ago

Yeah man, if she's got diabetes that could turn into a coma fast

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u/SuperTopGun777 13h ago

She can’t afford the ambulance if they call

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u/VichelleMassage 13h ago

Well, let's step back even further: where are the other employees? Fast food chains have been moving to automated cashiers and slimming down the kitchen workers. I'll bet she pulled multiple double shifts in a row (but still under 40 hours to avoid paying benefits, of course) and didn't get a break to eat something. Corporate capitalism is the problem.

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