5 things you can do to lower your ER bill — or avoid one in the first place

• Plenty of people in the US have faced unaffordable ER bills.
• Fortunately, patients have leverage when negotiating with hospitals.
• Business Insider spoke with three experts who shared tips on how you can lower your bill or avoid one.

Huge ER bills seem to be a defining feature of the US healthcare system. No one's immune.

Even former US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who's well aware of the high costs of the US healthcare system, was surprised by a nearly $5,000 ER bill earlier this year.