When your child suddenly breaks out in a rash, rushing to the emergency room feels like the safest move—even if it ends with a pricey ointment prescription that urgent care could have handled. That’s parenting.
But what if you never even see a doctor? Should you still be charged thousands of dollars?
That’s what happened to Nathan Jachimiec, who took his 11-year-old son Ian to Good Samaritan Hospital ER in San Jose back in May. Hoping to get answers about Ian’s rash, they waited for hours in the emergency room. Nurses repeatedly told them to keep doing what they were doing.
Eventually, Nathan decided the rash wasn’t worth the endless wait. He and Ian left without seeing a doctor or receiving medication.
Days later, the real emergency arrived: a $5,000 hospital bill for a visit that never happened.
Jachimiec tried disputing the charge, but the hospital dismissed his complaint. Frustrated, he reached out to 7 On Your Side, a local consumer advocate news team known for pressuring businesses into resolving unfair cases.
Like magic, the $5,000 bill disappeared.
Good Samaritan Hospital later claimed it acted quickly once it became aware of the issue, emphasizing values of transparency, compassion, and fairness—though notably only after being called out on TV.
The case highlights the absurdity of America’s healthcare system. Paying $5,000 out-of-pocket without receiving care feels less like a mistake and more like an injustice. As critics point out, in countries with universal healthcare, such a situation would be unthinkable.
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