I am a student visiting LA from the UK to do some research. Met some mutual friends and thought it would be fun to visit some bars. Next thing I know I’m in a hospital - I had fallen over, was unconscious for hours, puked, and seen talking to a man who had bought me a drink. I am horrified this happened and now incredibly anxious and stressed about what happened and, mainly, the fact I will somehow have to pay for this. My travel insurance does not cover anything related to alcohol intoxication - so while I and the people I was with are sure this happened due to me being spiked (perhaps even with just very strong alcohol), I cannot prove this, and thus know the travel insurance won’t work.

Somebody at the hospital gave me some charity papers, but someone else later took them away, which I find a bit unnerving. But, if I can show I have no income (as a student who doesn’t have a job), is there any way to alleviate the bill?

I cannot currently call the hospital as I have a data-only esim which doesn’t allow phone calls, hence why I have come to reddit. Please could people provide any advice - I am extremely unfamiliar with the US healthcare system beyond my understanding that it’s predatory and insanely expensive for the uninsured.