<p>^^ in the US this is illegal because of EMTALA.<br>
“EMTALA requires most hospitals to provide an examination and needed stabilizing treatment, without consideration of insurance coverage or ability to pay, when a patient presents to an emergency room for attention to an emergency medical condition”</p>
<p>Again, not being familiar with the European medical system, I can’t make specific assertions, but in the US model, the “list price” is always significantly higher than the hospital ever expects to collect, even from the well-insured. So check what the fifteen grand represents and see what they’ll accept. I still think it’s hard for them to make the amount stick against someone in the US who was a minor then.</p>