A Game Show Host’s Legal Battle Over Medical Bill
A daring move by a game show host to challenge the U.S medical system ended up leading to a lawsuit against him.
Popular Twitch streamer Austin Show, known for hosting shows like Name Your Price and Love or Host, shared on his podcast Fear&—which he co-hosts with Hasan Piker, QTCinderella, and Will Neff—that his strategy to delay paying a medical bill he deemed “f—ing ridiculous” eventually led to legal consequences. Austin expressed a strong disdain for the healthcare industry in America, labeling it as “morally reprehensible.”
He described his personal approach to handling medical bills, stating, “Whenever I get a medical bill, I go out of my way to make it extremely difficult for them to collect my payment.”
Specifically, Austin had been avoiding a $890 bill from an urgent care clinic in Los Angeles for 11 months. He actively ignored calls and emails concerning the debt, intentionally trying to frustrate the debt collectors. QTCinderella even mentioned that Austin had “bragged” about not paying the bill.
The Consequences of Defiance
The situation escalated during a phone conversation when Austin provocatively asked the debt collector, “What are you gonna do, sue me?”
Sure enough, three weeks after this bold statement, the healthcare company took legal action against him. Once served with the lawsuit at his home, Austin hastily contacted the company to settle the bill, feigning ignorance and attempting to negotiate a settlement. However, the company representative informed him that any negotiation would now have to involve the courts.
Resigned, Austin ended up saying, “That’s too much work. Here’s my debit card,” and settled the $890 debt.
Despite the hassle and the ultimate payment of the bill, Austin still considered the whole episode a victory on his part.
“At the end of the day, I paid it. It’s off my record. The case has been dropped,” he explained. He took pride in the fact that he had caused the debt collectors significant effort over the nearly year-long ordeal, including sending letters, making phone calls, hiring a lawyer, and paying someone to serve the lawsuit.
QTCinderella humorously speculated, “Do you ever think that maybe that’s why it costs extra because they have to have all that staff to hunt people down who haven’t paid?”
Fear& releases new episodes every Monday, with additional bonus episodes and content available on Patreon, where the show enjoys a following of over 22,000 members.
Hi, I’m Emily, a passionate and dedicated member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a keen eye for detail and a love for writing, I ensure that the latest celebrity news, major economic trends, and helpful tips for your home are presented in the most engaging and informative way possible. Fun fact: During a particularly exciting news story, I once managed to finish an article in record time, fueled solely by copious amounts of coffee and pure adrenaline!
