(NewsNation) — Sky-high health care costs aren’t just haunting everyday Americans — they’re also shocking one of the country’s preeminent doctors.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams has gone viral for his social media post highlighting astronomical medical costs.
“Recently had an ER visit for dehydration while out of town. Received some labs and 3 IV bags. Here’s the bill — AFTER insurance. It’s no wonder medical debt is the top cause of bankruptcy in the U.S.,” Adams posted to Xformally known as Twitter.
After being treated for dehydration during an emergency room visit recently, Adams says he was charged almost $5,000 — even after insurance.
Now, he’s advocating for change, calling the health care system “financially crippling” for most Americans.
“My first thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, this is why 100 million Americans are in medical debt,’” Adams said Tuesday on “Morning in America.”
Adams called the American medical system broken, saying“Health care coverage in the U.S. is a gamble, and the house always wins.”
Adams said the cost is just too high. He explained he was charged nearly $5,000 for what he said cost about $500 worth of services.
Another issue, Adams said, is that the health care system is “cost shifting,” which means insurers and health care providers are charging more to people with greater coverage to make up for the people who don’t have coverage or can’t pay medical bills.
“That’s the problem with the system,” Adams said. “Ultimately, it comes down to transparency.”
The American people need to know what they’re going to be charged beforehand, Adams said. It should take four to six weeks after being treated to receive a bill or know how much a patient is going to have to pay.
“We need to have a fair process for people to be able to dispute charges,” he said. “They hold a gun to your head. They literally say, ‘If you don’t pay these bills, we’re going to turn you over to collections and we’re going to ruin your credit.’”
Adams said his biggest concern is that skyrocketing health care costs are the leading cause of bankruptcy among Americans. It can lead to emotional and mental health issues among those who can’t pay their medical bills.
High costs are urging Americans to forgo or delay essential care. It’s a problem that was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now people are not seeking help because they worry about an unexpected medical bill.
Adams’ social media post hit a nerve with a lot of people who resonated with the struggle.
“If I am having difficulty navigating this, the average American doesn’t stand a chance,” Adams said.
He continued, “I hope Congress, legislators and regulators are hearing this. I hope they will take some meaningful action to provide again — to address those costs that are just completely out of control for the average U.S. consumer.”
