"This is how expensive it is to attempt suicide." The hospital bill going viral.

Content warning: This post discusses suicide and will be disturbing for many readers. 

When 21-year-old transgender man Oliver Jordan attempted suicide in the United States last year, he was hospitalised for one week.

Then the legal assistant received a hospital bill he’s calling “theft”.

The bill, for $93,000 American dollars ($130,000 AUD), covered medical and psychiatric services for only eight days.

Posting the image to Twitter, the man wrote: “This is how expensive it is to attempt suicide in the US.”

This is how expensive it is to attempt suicide in the US. pic.twitter.com/QHEzNcDeyB

— oliver garden (@alcumist) April 15, 2019

He added that while he had insurance, the bill would be life-altering if he didn’t.

If I didn’t have insurance, I would be in over $93K in debt

— oliver garden (@alcumist) April 15, 2019

Speaking to The New York Post, the Oklahoma man said there was still a gap fee of $2,850.

“For someone who couldn’t afford insurance, this would be utterly catastrophic,” he told them.

“Receiving bills and notices for something that will likely take me years to pay off is… disheartening… It leaves a hopeless feeling,” he added.

Other Twitter users continued to share their experiences with debt after hospitalisation in the United States.

I think mine was ~*only*~ $32,000 ????
I wound up with a $5200 bill after insurance. I’ve been paying $50/month for 4.5 years and throwing extra money and state tax returns at it when I can in order to keep the account open/out of collections. I owe under $1000 now.

— andi (@AndiAllOver) April 16, 2019

I had “cadillac” insurance when I checked into the hospital for SI and 3.5 days was $75,000.

— Natasha (@natashaapple_) April 16, 2019

THIS!!!

in 2017 I was in the psych ward cause I was suicidal. I stayed a weekend. I’m now 10k in debt.

literally didn’t even get to talk to a therapist abt my issues while I was there.

— ♡ (@darthloIa) April 16, 2019

Others, including Oliver himself, expressed complete disappointment with the American health system.

That’s insane, I remember when I broke my foot and being sent to A&E. The first thing I said when I left the hospital was thank god I’m not an American. Not in a mean way of course but in terms of being thankful.

— RedGrapes (@Mappvilla) April 16, 2019

I am lucky and so thankful. It’s why it’s so important to bring this to people’s attentions bc there is an intrinsic flaw in our healthcare system that stacks the odds against people who can’t afford insurance.

— oliver garden (@alcumist) April 16, 2019

The thing I don’t understand about healthcare in the US it that it’s not recognized as a basic human right like it is in most countries in the WHO. Out of many things I would’ve changed in the US, that’s the one something should be done about immediately.

— sunrise (@artmeal) April 16, 2019

While insurance covered most of Jordan’s medical bills following his hospitalisation, it does not cover his transgender surgery.

In order to have the surgery, he has started a GoFundMe to raise $6000.

“I’ve been out as transgender for over four years now, I’ve been on testosterone (hormone replacement therapy) for over three years, and I’m hoping to have top surgery as soon as possible. The largest point of my dysphoria is my chest. Binding helps, but it’s caused me to break ribs and miss out on so many things I enjoy due to the pain, the decreased lung capacity, and shortness of breath,” he wrote on the page.

“To be able to not wear a binder would be my greatest dream. I recently had a change in insurance and it no longer covers my top surgery at all, so I’m needing to raise the full amount. Any donations are HIGHLY appreciated, anything will help! Anything gets me closer to my goal of finally being comfortable in my own skin,” he added.

You can donate to Jordan’s top surgery on Go Fund Me.

If you, or a young person you know, is struggling with symptoms of mental illness please contact your local headspace centre here or chat to them online, here. If you are over the age of 25 and suffering from symptoms of mental illness please contact your local GP for a Mental Health Assessment Plan or call Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.