$738,000 NICU bill—this mom’s story of financial shock shows why U.S. healthcare is failing families
Imagine opening a bill for your baby’s hospital stay and seeing a total nearing $1 million. For 25-year-old Janice Hernandez from Nevada, this was her shocking reality. Her newborn daughter, born with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), spent two months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The itemized bill? A jaw-dropping $738,360.
Janice shared her experience in a TikTok video that has since gone viral, amassing over 3.6 million views and sparking over 8,000 comments. In the video, Janice holds up the bill in disbelief, revealing the exorbitant costs. “Do you want to converse? Have a conversation about the price? $738,360 freaking dollars. Almost a million dollars.”
She then flips through the itemized charges, stunned by the breakdown: “I swear there’s things that they didn’t do and I swear there’s things that they’re overcharging for.”
One charge in particular stood out: “$25 for a tiny tube of Aquaphor that I thought the nurse was just giving me to be cute and then give it for free. No ma’am. They made sure to charge every single little thing.”
Janice’s story has ignited a massive conversation about the staggering cost of healthcare in the U.S., especially for childbirth and newborn care.
Families are drowning in medical debt
For many parents, Janice’s experience hits close to home. In the comment section, one parent shared, @kaorigarcia shared, “My son died in the NICU after 4.5 months and it was over $6 million.”
Others expressed outrage at fees for seemingly routine services. Even Janice was shocked at some of the charges: “If I had known they’d charge $4,337 for moving rooms, I would’ve done it myself!”
The frustration isn’t limited to American parents. Comments flooded in from around the globe, with families from countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Australia expressing disbelief. One Australian parent, @omnomnomnivore wrote: “I’m in Australia, paid nothing for my c-section and a 5 night stay, and my hospital gifted me a baby goodie bag, and a celebratory soft cheese charcuterie board as congratulations. This is insane.”
Similarly, @NatHubbard from New Zealand added: “This is insane to me. So thankful to be living in NZ we take a lot for granted but that is sure an eye-opener.”
For more on how medical debt affects parents, read: Too many U.S. moms are in debt from giving birth. They deserve better.
Related: Too many U.S. moms are in debt from giving birth. They deserve better
A broken system—and few protections
In countries with universal healthcare, such stories are nearly unfathomable. Parents shared their relief at not facing financial ruin for receiving essential medical care.
One Canadian commenter, @rebeccahyatt256, said: “Honestly asking… I’m Canadian, my triplets were all in the NICU for 5 months and had multiple surgeries. I didn’t pay anything except parking. How will you financially recover?”
These comparisons highlight the staggering disparity between the U.S. healthcare system and those with publicly funded systems. While universal healthcare isn’t without challenges, stories like Janice’s emphasize the financial toll placed on American families—many of whom are left navigating complex insurance claims, medical debt, and surprise bills.
Even for insured families, NICU stays can result in unexpected financial burdens. While insurance may negotiate down the initial bill, families are often left with thousands—or even tens of thousands—in out-of-pocket expenses. A 2022 study found that 1 in 10 U.S. parents still owe medical debt from childbirth years after giving birth.
The emotional and financial burden
Janice also shared with BuzzFeed that her daughter’s discharge was delayed, despite her belief that earlier intervention with a feeding tube could have allowed them to go home sooner. “If they had just offered this early on, we would’ve been able to bring her home way sooner,” she explained.
Janice and her family are still waiting to learn how much of the bill will be covered by insurance. But for many families, even partial coverage isn’t enough to prevent financial hardship. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation report, 41% of Americans struggle with medical debt, with many forced to choose between paying for healthcare and meeting other basic needs.
A call for change
Janice’s story isn’t just about one outrageous bill—it’s part of a larger crisis that advocacy groups like March for Moms and The National Partnership for Women & Families are fighting to change. Additionally, legislative efforts like the Momnibus Act aim to address disparities in maternal healthcare costs and outcomes.
As viral conversations like Janice’s bring national attention to the crisis, the question remains: Why is the cost of care so astronomically high in the U.S.—and what can be done to fix it?
Have you or someone you know faced similar medical bills? What was the most surprising charge on your hospital bill? More importantly, what do you think needs to change? Share your thoughts with us on Motherly’s TikTok or Instagram.