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American Woman Screams In Tears That She Can’t Afford Medical Emergency While In Tokyo, Ends Up Paying $33
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American Woman Screams In Tears That She Can’t Afford Medical Emergency While In Tokyo, Ends Up Paying $33

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There have been countless American healthcare “horror” stories circulating around that have made us question everything we’ve taken for granted in life. The killer bills are what a staggering 83 percent of Americans, regardless of their income, said make quality medical care virtually unaffordable in this Pew Center research.

It’s no wonder that, as a result, Americans feel reluctant to seek emergency treatment even when abroad. This is precisely what happened to one woman who, according to Twitter user Kyle McLain, had an emergency accident while in Tokyo. “She was in tears, screaming that she couldn’t afford it,” recalled Kyle, but it turned out the total payment, thank God, was just a bit over 30 dollars.

People were quick to share their own experiences of how shockingly different American and non-American health systems are. It just proves how one, left with no other option, gets used to defective medical care in the so-called greatest country in the world.

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    This Twitter user based in Tokyo shared his client’s story

    Image credits: FarmboyinJapan

    Brandon Sheffield, the director of Necrosoft Games, told how he fixed the crown on his teeth in Osaka

    Image credits: necrosofty

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    Image credits: necrosofty

    The private Japanese clinic opened early just for him!

    Image credits: necrosofty

    After multiple complex procedures and sessions, the bill read 130 dollars total

    Image credits: necrosofty

    Japanese health insurance could have reduced the bill by half

    Image credits: necrosofty

    Even if there’s no set fee charged by clinics and hospitals in Japan, the general rule is that your first consultation is more expensive than the follow-ups. The organization Japan Healthcare Info suggests bringing anywhere from 50 to 100 dollars for your first consultation. Such a relatively low price is made possible by the country’s health insurance, which covers 70 percent of medical costs. The remaining 30 percent is paid by the patient himself.

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    Image credits: necrosofty

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    Brandon concluded that it’s a no-brainer that America needs universal healthcare asap

    Image credits: necrosofty

    The low costs at the clinic didn’t have any hidden fees

    Image credits: necrosofty

    Brandon’s experience made this man feel depressed

    Image credits: Ray01XX

    Other people also told their stories of medical treatments abroad that came at a fraction of the American price

    Image credits: johntv

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    Image credits: c_pruett

    Image credits: simon_was_here

    Image credits: whirlofwings

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    Someone shared a bill that soared up to almost 15K dollars for 4 days in hospital

    Image credits: DataAngel

    Image credits: ArmdBluGunvolt

    This man paid 5 dollars for his son’s medicine thanks to Japanese social healthcare

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    Image credits: Benjamin_Taylor

    Image credits: mouzChase

    Image credits: beautifulrobot

    People had a lot to say about the subject

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    Liucija Adomaite

    Liucija Adomaite

    Writer, Community member

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    Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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    Liucija Adomaite

    Liucija Adomaite

    Writer, Community member

    Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

    Read less »

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Ilona Baliūnaitė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

    What do you think ?
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    Noez 🇸🇪
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That comment from "PocketSandman" about the sister being diagnosed with MS and paying 55.000 USD for the diagnose, plus 85.000 USD monthly for meds, that really hit me hard. I also have MS and I take meds for it and I pay nowhere near that much for it. I have no insurance, I have a halftime job and a halftime pay and I don't have to worry about my health costing me much at all. Health doesn't have a price! I am so thankful for my country 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

    kurisutofu
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, corporations in America thought the same. They thought "heath has no price, so we can bill anything we want!" ...

    Load More Replies...
    Mike Crow
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Americans are afraid of universal healthcare because they are told it is socialism and that the economy would fail and all their money would be taken away.

    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They also fear that socialism is two steps away from communism. Most of the people that are against it have never taken an economics class to understand how it all works. They also think that socialist countries don't have private businesses, that everything is owned by the government. Actually..there is a lot of private business ownership. And lastly, they think there is no way to be wealthy in a socialist country. There is..if you are willing to work...just the same as here. The difference is..socialist countries have less crime, less violence and less drug addiction. They have less people dying from curable diseases and illnesses. And the people there are happier over all. Why would anyone not want to be happy?

    Load More Replies...
    Tiny Dynamine
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am glad you keep exposing how inhumane the American system is. It really is mind boggling to know that there are millions of people who still defend the fact that they can't afford treatment. It is a definite sign of brainwashing connected to forced patriotism and egomania that it's the best country in the world. It's ripe for a psychological study.

    Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't hate my country, but the last few years everything has just felt wrong about it. Seeing an American flag even makes me feel uneasy. I'm in the south. Flags are everywhere.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Noez 🇸🇪
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That comment from "PocketSandman" about the sister being diagnosed with MS and paying 55.000 USD for the diagnose, plus 85.000 USD monthly for meds, that really hit me hard. I also have MS and I take meds for it and I pay nowhere near that much for it. I have no insurance, I have a halftime job and a halftime pay and I don't have to worry about my health costing me much at all. Health doesn't have a price! I am so thankful for my country 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

    kurisutofu
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, corporations in America thought the same. They thought "heath has no price, so we can bill anything we want!" ...

    Load More Replies...
    Mike Crow
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Americans are afraid of universal healthcare because they are told it is socialism and that the economy would fail and all their money would be taken away.

    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They also fear that socialism is two steps away from communism. Most of the people that are against it have never taken an economics class to understand how it all works. They also think that socialist countries don't have private businesses, that everything is owned by the government. Actually..there is a lot of private business ownership. And lastly, they think there is no way to be wealthy in a socialist country. There is..if you are willing to work...just the same as here. The difference is..socialist countries have less crime, less violence and less drug addiction. They have less people dying from curable diseases and illnesses. And the people there are happier over all. Why would anyone not want to be happy?

    Load More Replies...
    Tiny Dynamine
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am glad you keep exposing how inhumane the American system is. It really is mind boggling to know that there are millions of people who still defend the fact that they can't afford treatment. It is a definite sign of brainwashing connected to forced patriotism and egomania that it's the best country in the world. It's ripe for a psychological study.

    Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't hate my country, but the last few years everything has just felt wrong about it. Seeing an American flag even makes me feel uneasy. I'm in the south. Flags are everywhere.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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