When they agreed to the service 12+ years ago, were they shown the costs? Would you say their purchase was fully informed? Hell for all we know it was an ER visit and they had absolutely no say in the matter.
> Hell for all we know it was an ER visit and they had absolutely no say in the matter
This has been tried in case law, and failed. Even if you're documented unconscious, the EMTs are allowed to make a good faith assumption that you want reasonable efforts of resuscitation. Look up "implied consent" laws.
The EMTs assess your financial situation before deciding if you can afford their actions?
(Charging people for emergency treatment is one of the most insane aspects of the US system, and we need to fight it as long as possible in the UK before it gets inflicted on us)
I understand how it works, I think you’re missing the thrust of my point. Buying a car for an agreed-on price is one thing. Opaque medical billing where we don’t even know what is covered, let alone what it costs, is very different.
You plead poverty with the ambulance company and hope they'll settle on a reduced amount with you. They may also put you on a payment plan, or report non full on time payment to the credit bureaus. Sometimes all 3.
More like you went to your favorite restaurant and wanted the fish but there was no price on it, and when you asked how much it would cost they would ask if you had insurance or not because that would determine your price, so you say no insurance and they say okay well it could cost anywhere between $10 and $1500 and then you get the fish and enjoy it and they give you the bill after and it's actually $10,500.
Don't forget the social shaming where the waiters act like you're ridiculous for possibly caring about how much the fish might cost. No well defined consideration means there is no contract. No contract means there is no legitimate basis to bill for anything more than reimbursement of costs that have been actually incurred.
That reminds me of the time I went to my favorite local restaurant for my annual complimentary dinner and received a bill the following month for $150 then received another bill several weeks later for a further $175.
