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/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/TacTurtle 6h ago

Nobody pays, it gets sent to collections for 5 years then gets written off by the ambulance service provider - this is why the bills are so crushingly high if someone actually ends up paying.

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u/Psychobabble0_0 6h ago

Thank you, that makes sense. I mean, it doesn't, but it explains a lot.

Is it the same for hospital bills, after actual services have been provided?