First, a disclaimer of sorts: I'm really not trying to take away from your central argument, that ER bills are way too high. Second, another disclaimer: if you

First, a disclaimer of sorts: I'm really not trying to take away from your central argument, that ER bills are way too high. Second, another disclaimer: if you were a 1st time parent, I kind of understand! 103F/39.4C is unquestionably a high temperature, but it's almost always part of a viral infection, and ibuprofen and/or paracetamol will almost always reduce it. It's really not particularly unusual for kids to get a high temperature while they're ill, and I literally can't fathom why you'd take a 4yo to the ER for a high temp. Here in the Europe, we give ibuprofen and/or paracetamol, and wouldn't dream of taking our kids to the ER without a very good reason, such as the meds not bringing the temperature down, or there being a rash, or anything else that raised alarm bells; I'm assuming of course that were there any such circumstances, you would have mentioned them. At worst in Europe, we'd take them to the GP the same or next day. And the GP would, without doubt, assume you were a 1st time parent and say "it's viral" and (somewhat) politely kick you out. I've literally been there with a child having a 40C temp, and they weren't arsed. I've been there myself with a temp of 41C, and they weren't arsed.