New mom billed nearly $750,000 for her newborn daughter's hospital stay and people are stunned

Sometimes, a hospital bill can be more daunting than the medical emergency itself. For 25-year-old Janice Hernandez, that shock came when she opened the invoice for her newborn daughter’s hospital stay. What she saw was a number so staggering, that it left her in disbelief. Janice’s TikTok video (@janiceheartss) about the experience has since gone viral, gaining over 3.6 million views and sparking thousands of comments from people who were just as stunned. "I just got the bill for my daughter's NICU stay. Do you guys wanna know how much it is? Do you wanna converse, have a conversation about the price? $738,360 freaking dollars. Almost a million dollars," Janice said in the video, holding up the bill for her followers to see.

Her newborn daughter, born with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), spent two months in NICU, according to Motherly. In the video, she decided to go through the itemized charges. "They sent every single little thing that they charged for," she explained. "And I swear there's things that they didn't do, and I swear there's things that they're overcharging for." She further shared, "For example, I noticed on the bill that there is a little tiny tube of Aquaphor that they gave me that I actually still have. $25 for a tiny tube of Aquaphor that I thought the nurse was just giving me to just be cute and…and giving it for free. No, ma’am, they made sure to charge every single little thing."

Janice also shared with BuzzFeed that her daughter’s discharge was delayed. "If they had just offered this (feeding tube operation) early on, we would’ve been able to bring her home way sooner," she explained. Her frustration resonated with thousands of people.

@mxto.m said, "America’s health system is insane… wym $700k I could build a hospital with that money bro." @cynicaltoast69 commented, "The fact that they charged you $25 and you can buy a big tube of Aquaphor for like less than $10 is crazy." @tashaamorgann shared, "My baby is on day 6 of her NICU stay. My trash can is gonna love that bill when it comes." @bailschris wrote, "My hospital gave me a small bottle of Aquaphor and on the itemized bill, they charged $120." @anniebunny2001 asked, "How do you even pay that?"

The video even gained the attention of people across the world, who shared their own experience of healthcare in their country. @omnomnomnivore said, "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." @kimberellidawn shared, "In Canada it's $0 for having a baby. My daughter was in NICU for 7 days - $0." @staceywhelan40 shockingly responded "What!!! I Live in New Zealand and have had 2 babies, one that had a NICU stay it cost me ZERO dollars and that's with no insurance. America is insane!!" @ibesh8 remarked, "In Saudi Arabia. All medical bills are covered by the government."

You can follow Janice Hernandez (@janiceheartss) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.