Emergency medical crisis or trauma is more certain than death and sooner or later most of us will have some illness or accident requiring hospitalization. That is the reason that we all should pay for universal one-payer healthcare in the US.

Facts are, they way things stand today; if you are uninsured you get the minimal and least costly treatment required by law at a hospital and if you are insured you are treated like a "valued customer (that can pay)". Remember that when a trauma injury might threaten amputation of a leg or something, you don't what them saying that this guy has no insurance or means to pay for this costly, iffy treatment so: "let's just chop his leg off -- it's cheaper to do!"

I just came home from the hospital a couple of weeks ago -- I had some routine, scheduled, but serious surgery and haven't even gotten the bill yet. I came out of anaesthesia, that's a trip in itself -- "hey I must not be dead" -- in a private ICU room. Not to worry, I have insurance that will pay for most of this. The "list price" was probably $30K. This is the second time other, side 2 years ago was $23K "list price". My insurer paid $14K on the contract price I paid the other 20%. I have a 80%/20% deductible.

Point is: you can probably negotiate a settlement price along these lines. Medicare or Medicaid would pay roughly 22% - 26% of the hospital's "list price" -- use that as a starting point in your negotiations.

Unfortunately, paying for major medical expenses is like buying a car -- that's not right but the way it is in amerika.

I hope that you get well and that you trauma was not too serious -- a minor sewing job or a broken bone or the like ...