Within the newest instance of how backward and damaged California’s Democrat-run healthcare system has develop into, a father has gone viral after revealing that his daughter’s ambulance experience value greater than 3 times as a lot—as a result of he had insurance coverage.
Robby Witt, a California dad and well-liked TikToker with over half 1,000,000 followers, posted a jaw-dropping video in February that’s nonetheless going viral, which has Individuals throughout the nation livid.
Within the clip, he calmly dismantles a so-called “progressive” California regulation that punishes folks for being accountable and having medical health insurance.
Witt, whose daughter wanted life-saving ambulance care, was initially billed simply $600.
However as soon as he submitted his insurance coverage data, the invoice exploded to a staggering $2,342, forcing him to pay $1,264 out-of-pocket after his insurance coverage paid solely $1,078.85.
The video, captioned “This isn’t satire. That is the state of healthcare in America—a lifesaving ambulance experience for my daughter. The state of California is penalizing residents who’ve insurance coverage,” has set social media ablaze, with practically 33 million views as Individuals reel from the absurdity.
Witt’s dialog with the operator lays naked the twisted logic of California’s healthcare system.
Operator:
How can I aid you?Robby Witt:
So, I believe there’s a mistake on the invoice, however possibly you possibly can assist me out. We obtained a invoice, after which we realized that you simply guys didn’t have our insurance coverage. So we despatched you the insurance coverage, and it seems just like the invoice went up.Operator:
It went up?Robby Witt:
Yeah, the primary invoice we obtained with out the insurance coverage was 600 bucks, after which the second was virtually 1,300 bucks.Operator:
Okay. Yeah, the primary bill you acquired—that’s a reduction you obtain in case you’re uninsured. So that you’re not eligible for the low cost since you’re insured. The invoice was $2,342.14. We billed your insurance coverage. Your insurance coverage solely paid $1,078.85.Robby Witt:
Can I’m going again to the low cost with out the insurance coverage?Operator:
No, because you’re insured, you’re not eligible for the low cost.Robby Witt:
If I’m going cancel my insurance coverage, am I eligible for the low cost?Operator:
No, sir, as a result of we checked eligibility and also you do have lively protection for the date of service.Robby Witt:
Oh, I wanted to cancel it earlier than I obtained the service to get the low cost.Operator:
You’re solely eligible for the low cost in case you’re uninsured.Robby Witt:
Okay, so I’ll get cheaper well being care if I’m uninsured?Operator:
If you happen to’re uninsured, you’re eligible for the low cost. Right.Robby Witt:
Is that this widespread? I pay for insurance coverage and I find yourself paying extra out of pocket as a result of I pay for a premium? That’s wild.Operator:
No, that is only a new regulation that began in 2024—AB 716. The regulation is that you simply obtain a reduction in case you’re uninsured. After we first ship an bill to the affected person, we invoice them as in the event that they’re uninsured. If you happen to’re insured, sadly, you’re not eligible for the low cost.Robby Witt:
Okay, so if I’ve the incentives straight right here—if I need to pay much less for medical care, I ought to cancel my insurance coverage if my daughter wants life-saving medical care?Operator:
I don’t know, sir, in case you ought to cancel your insurance coverage. I’m simply letting you understand that the low cost is just for sufferers who’re uninsured.Robby Witt:
Okay, that’s particular. That could be a particular regulation. So there’s no method to put that low cost onto an insured individual? Solely the uninsured folks get that?Operator:
Right.
WATCH:
In an unique interview with Fox News final month, Witt slammed the authors of AB 716, calling out California’s warped logic.
“Your entire life you’ve been instructed, proper? Like, you need to purchase medical health insurance in order that if one thing – God forbid – occurs, then you’re going to get a decrease fee than in case you didn’t have the insurance coverage. Like, that’s what we’ve all been instructed our entire lives. After which the precise reverse occurred,” Witt instructed Fox.
“My actual drawback, I suppose, is that it’s based mostly off of insurance coverage and why this invoice wasn’t written based mostly off of revenue… So in reality, you possibly can have a higher-income household than me who decides to say, you understand what? We’re not going to purchase insurance coverage. And now, rapidly, their ambulance payments are going to be cheaper, despite the fact that they’re increased revenue.”
“And so, you understand, generally once they go to legislate these items, I don’t know in the event that they ran out of IQ factors to get it completed, however it simply doesn’t make sense to me that you’d supply reductions based mostly on whether or not somebody’s insured and never based mostly off of their W-2 revenue.”