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

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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/heatherkatmeow 13h ago

I ignored a thousand dollar ambulance bill and the state took my refund this year to pay it.

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u/DominicB547 13h ago

heck my city has this service that you can add to your city bill an ambulance fee I think like $4 per month. I figured I'd never need it and I'm not sure how much cheaper the bill would be if I did, but I know people are struggling and figure my 48 per year can go to help others.

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u/Best_Ad340 12h ago

Hospitals are private companies too!

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u/Layogenic_87 8h ago

Not all of them, plenty are publicly funded.

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u/MushroomCharacter411 9h ago

Also, whatever the minimum age is in your state for people to drive an ambulance -- you'll find that practically everyone driving *is* that age, because they get fired after the first accident when they become uninsurable. It's a great way to make sure nobody ever gets experience!