I braced myself, thinking back to past experiences in American hospitals.
The scene was straight out of a Mediterranean daydream, and yet I was panicking.
Id tried every kind of medication I could find, but nothing could ease the pounding in my skull.
A few minutes later, I described my symptoms to a Spanish doctor via chat using Google Translate.
So, instead, we decided to go to the nearest emergency room.
Leaving our son with his grandparents, my husband drove us to a small city about 35 minutes inland.
Thankfully, I didnt have to wait long to find out what wed be paying.
She noted that if I needed additional tests or procedures, the total could increase.
Inside the hospital, things progressed as expected.
We sat in a sterile room in uncomfortable plastic chairs with dozens of other uncomfortable-looking people.
Shortly afterward, the doctor returned to share my results: No brain damage.
He instructed me to return if my symptoms worsened or didnt clear up.
I was pleasantly surprised when the receptionist told me that the final tally for my ER visit was 729.
After I paid, she handed me a disc with a copy of my CT scan for my records.
She also gave me the documentation I needed to provide to my insurance company for reimbursement.
Although an unexpected 729 bill is indeed a hardship for most people (myself included!
Far too often, Americans must choose between prioritizing their health or financial stability.
Even with insurance, the numbers can be astronomical for the average American family.
If critical care is required or surgery is performed, those costs could skyrocket to $20,000 or more.
And whatever you do, dont delay care if you suspect the problem is serious.
The outcome could be catastrophic.This article originally appeared onHuffPost.
