The average cost of visiting the emergency room is currently $1,233, or 40 percent more than what most Americans pay for rent, leading many to criticize the high cost of emergency care. Here’s a breakdown of charges the average American incurs when visiting the ER:
$36: Codeine pill you can easily get from Tyler down the street for like 10 bucks
$800: Timely, responsive care from physicians who never inexplicably leave patient waiting for hours on end
$8: Few extra sips of IV fluid
$2,500: Routine organ rotation
$11: Oak tongue depressor
$125: Paternity test, since child is there anyway
$300: Vial of healing tonic
$1,000: Video footage of cool camera shot looking down on your face as they wheel you in all fast
$200: Commemorative framed picture of you and your attending physician
$5: Tip
