Lakshay Mehta talking about his experience at the hospital / Lakshay Mehta via X

An Indian man’s viral social media account of a short emergency room visit in the United States redirects focus again at the extraordinary costs of American health care and the financial strain patients face even with insurance. Parth Vijayvergiya, an Indian national residing in New York, shared a video titled “Insane healthcare cost in US. Real life incident” that has now been viewed widely on social platforms, striking a chord with audiences in India and abroad.

Vijayvergiya said he was ice skating with his family in New York on Dec. 25 when another skater collided with his knee, causing severe pain. Believing he might have fractured it, he decided to seek treatment at a hospital emergency room. Choosing not to call an ambulance — which he said was prohibitively expensive — he instead took a taxi to the ER.

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Once at the hospital, he described spending roughly 90 minutes in the emergency department, where doctors took an X-ray, examined his knee, wrapped it in a crepe bandage, and discharged him with no major intervention. Weeks later, the financial impact became clear: the total bill for that brief visit reached $6,354 (about ₹5.8 lakh). His insurance covered approximately $4,000–$4,500, leaving him with an out-of-pocket charge of $1,800 (about ₹1.5–1.65 lakh).

Vijayvergiya’s recounting has provoked widespread public reaction on social media, prompting users to share their own experiences and critiques of the U.S. healthcare system. Some commenters stated that even with what they consider “good insurance,” patients can still be left with significant bills, while others drew direct comparisons to healthcare costs in countries like India. One user noted that “you can’t survive without insurance” and pointed out long wait times for specialist appointments, while another highlighted how the same services might cost just a few thousand rupees in India.

This viral episode has intersected with broader data on U.S. national health expenditure, which continues to climb. In 2024, total spending reached an estimated $5.3 trillion, or about $15,474 per person, and accounted for 18.0 percent of U.S. GDP. Federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid together accounted for nearly 39 percent of total health spending, while private insurance made up roughly 31 percent and out-of-pocket payments were 11percent, underscoring the mix of public and private responsibility and the persistent burden on households. Projected growth through 2033 suggests health spending will outpace economic growth, with substantial financial implications for patients and insurers alike.

Healthcare affordability remains a national challenge. According to national polling, nearly half of U.S. adults say it is difficult to afford healthcare costs, and about one in four adults reported problems paying for care in the past year. Those without insurance are especially burdened: 82 percent of uninsured adults report difficulty affording care, compared to 44 percent of those with coverage.

Indian and global observers have seized on the viral account to highlight a stark contrast with more cost-effective systems elsewhere and to question whether high prices in the U.S. align with care quality. In India, routine consultations and diagnostic procedures typically cost a fraction of U.S. prices, and competitive private sector dynamics contribute to significantly lower bills for similar services.

The viral video and ensuing commentary underscore a persistent tension in healthcare debate: advanced medical technology and perceived quality in the United States versus affordability and financial risk for patients, even those with insurance. The episode has become a flashpoint in discussions about access, insurance design, and the real-world impact of healthcare costs on everyday people.

Discover more at New India Abroad.

A man injured his knee and went to a hospital in New York. He was in the emergency room for 1.5 hrs, had an X-ray and the doctor applied a crepe bandage.

The hospital charged him $6,354 for this (₹5.80 lakhs)

His insurance paid $4,500, but he still had to pay $1,800 out of… pic.twitter.com/gjg4vJTBR4

— Lakshay Mehta (@lakshaymehta08) January 22, 2026