Only $200k? They got a deal there.

The shitty American medical system being what it is I gotta blame the travel insurance. If their insurance was supposed to cover it and didn’t, that’s an insurance problem.

From what I've heard from Americans working in hospitals is that this bill is what the hospital writes but they only charge a small amount and declare the rest at their own insurance as a loss. So the couple would end up with a bill of a few hundred dollars, nothing more. This is common practice, is what those people told me. I don't know if this is the case in every state though. But it sure is one weird fucked up system.

insurance in general in the us is increasingly security theater. Not just medical.

Aren't you supposed to avoid air travel during the later stages of pregnancy?

I have a friend who had a c section birth that otherwise had no complications (other than requiring a c section. They were in the hospital 4 days iirc, way less than a week. Insurance was billed for 98,000. They had a 10k out of pocket max, thankfully

isnt advisable by studies for pregnant woman to not travel outside thier country to avoid situations like these.

For most US medical bills the number you see and what the insurance company will actually pay (even to completely settle the bill) are entirely different numbers. Although this isn't medical insurance per se. I bet they negotiated it down though.