After insurance and adjustments, we have to pay $2,300*. Again, that was after our insurance covered its part, an insurance we pay hundreds of dollars a month for. But what were we going to do? Fourteen year old kid with severe abdominal pain. We thought it was probably his appendix, based on family history, and he was suffering terribly in any event.

We are insane in this country with our medical system. No other advanced economy has to put up with anything like this. For that matter, neither do most developing countries (leaving aside super poor, backward places), because even if you don't have insurance and have to pay out of pocket, the costs will be some small fraction.

ETA: I just checked the bill again. Our portion is $2,790.54.