Childbirth costs ~$25,000 without insurance in the US
Giving birth in the US costs approximately $25,000 without insurance, dropping to a few thousand dollars with coverage.
Snapshot · Modern Wisdom
Something Strange Is Happening To Gen Z - Isabel Brown - #1106
Explore episode
Jun 4, 2026
Where this was said
Should US Healthcare Be Socialised?
At 1:22:39 · chapter starts 1:14:45
Chris shares a story from New Orleans about unaffordable care. Isabel explains why she opposes socialized healthcare, citing Canada's 18-month waits and the Charlie Gard case. She defends price transparency reform and pregnancy resource centers over Planned Parenthood. [1] — Isabel Brown "In no other market do you receive a service with no idea of the cost until months later. Hospital administrators and insurance companies se…" 1:24:20
US Healthcare's Hidden Problem: No One Knows the Price Until the Bill Arrives
In no other market do you receive a service with no idea of the cost until months later. Hospital administrators and insurance companies set prices behind closed doors, then present an inflated bill that often drops by two-thirds the moment you ask for an itemized receipt.
Planned Parenthood: ~600 clinics vs 3,000 pregnancy centers
There are approximately 600 Planned Parenthood locations in the US, compared to about 3,000 pregnancy resource centers that provide free prenatal care.
$800M federal funding to Planned Parenthood annually
The US federal government provides approximately $800 million per year in taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood.
Canada: 18-month wait for hip replacement surgery
In Canada's socialized healthcare system, patients can wait upwards of 18 months for a hip replacement surgery.
Similar snapshots
More than 3 in 4 Americans report anxiety or depression
Mental health challenges are nearly universal — BetterHelp's own research found the majority of Americans experiencing symptoms right now.
Medicaid 5-year look-back rule
When applying for Medicaid to cover nursing home costs, there is a 5-year look-back period that can disqualify applicants who gave away or spent down assets.
Pipe broke → hydrogen sulfide studio air
A broken pipe filled the Bad Friends studio with what the hosts identified as hydrogen sulfide — microscopic fecal aeroparticles — that the crew denied smelling.
Robot surgery: 10x less blood loss
Fei-Fei Li's father's liver surgery performed by a da Vinci robot resulted in 10 times less blood loss than a typical open liver surgery, thanks to laparoscopic precision.
115M US adults have prediabetes
Approximately 115 million adults in the US currently have prediabetes, most of whom are unaware, according to the Lingo sponsor segment.
Drug overdose deaths: 110K to 80K to 70K
Drug overdose deaths in the US fell from 110,000 to 80,000 in 2024, and then to roughly 70,000 — the largest single-year drop the CDC has ever recorded.
Men's overdose rate fell 27% in one year
Men's overdose death rate fell 27% in a single year, outpacing the 23% drop for women.
Ages 15–24 overdose deaths down 37%
The steepest decline in overdose deaths was among 15–24-year-olds, whose rate fell 37%.
Nurses walk miles per shift fetching items
Fei-Fei Li observed that on a given hospital shift, nurses walk miles just to fetch medicine and supplies, illustrating a clear use case for assistive robotics in healthcare.
