An Illinois woman who waited four hours in an emergency room, was never seen by a doctor, and left for another hospital still received a $410 bill, according to a KFF Health News investigation published Sept. 29. Her insurer refused to pay, leaving her responsible for the charge.
The case shows a risk many families do not expect. When ER waits stretch for hours, walking out can feel like the only option, yet some hospitals now bill once registration and a nursing check are complete.
