If you want to "crush" your exorbitant medical bills legally, this TikToker shows you how

In the United States, healthcare is unimaginably expensive. For instance, in 2016, a new mother was charged $40 for simply holding her baby. Because the country lacks a universal healthcare system, most patients end up paying far more than those in other parts of the "developed" world like the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, this means that a lot of people end up in medical debt, owing thousands of dollars that they may potentially never be able to pay back simply for falling ill. For those who find themselves in this predicament, TikTok user Jared Walker, who runs the organization Dollar For, shared how to legally "crush" medical bills in a now-viral video.

The video gained traction after Twitter user DareBear1226 shared it on the social media platform. In response to another TikTok user who asked, "What is a piece of information that you know that feels illegal to know?" Walker states, "Most hospitals in America are non-profits. That means they must have a Charity Care Policy." A Charity Care Policy, as Mayo Clinic explains, is established to serve patients in difficult financial circumstances who cannot afford medical treatment. Therefore, if you are under a certain income level, you could qualify for help under a hospital's Charity Care Policy.

"If you make under a certain amount of money, the hospital will legally have to forgive your medical bills," he continues, before displaying how an individual in medical debt can evaluate if they are eligible for entitlements from such a policy. He instructs folks to head to trusty ol' Google, and type in the hospital's name plus the term "financial assistance." Then, log on to their site (which will usually be the first link that pops up) and look for their Charity Care Policy. Finally, based on your gross annual income, you could apply for a medical bill waiver.

Walker, encouraging viewers to reach out to him should they need help, adds, "I crush hospital bills. TEST ME." Perhaps he was not ready for how many folks would actually test him, but he soon received dozens of requests for aid with the process. Thus, taking to Twitter, Walker shared an update: "We went viral! I am trying to stay on top of all the DMs so I apologize for the general message but at this point, it is all I can do." He put out a call for people to send him emails with details about their medical bills. He stated, "All together there are tens of millions of dollars in medical bills that have been brought to my attention. Let's crush all of them!"

In response, lots of Twitter users praised Walker's efforts. One individual wrote, "I just love your video and I hope you can handle this! Please tweet and let us know how you are doing on the regular!" Another added, "What an incredible organization."

To learn more about Dollar For, you can visit the initiative's website here. "The world of healthcare finances can be complex and confusing, and certainly not something a family dealing with a medical emergency should have to worry about," the website reads. "Dollar For simply saw a need that no one else was fulfilling and, until the healthcare system can support these efforts itself, we’re committed to helping every family we can escape crippling medical bills."