On the subject of medical costs, a friend went to the ER with excruciating pain one night (involuntary moaning/screaming in pain type of pain). Their triage was so bad they made her sit in the waiting room while people with cuts, etc, go in before her. She ended up passing a kidney stone while sitting in the waiting room. They finally call her in (after all that was over), took some vitals, palpated her abdomen, and said "well looks like you've already passed it, if you experience it again come back, otherwise here's a prescription for some pain meds".

She got the bill a week or so later -- over $1000. OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS to have her vitals taken and abdomen palpated after she passed the kidney stone IN THE WAITING ROOM.

THIS is wrong.