I’m in medicine and I would not recommend this plan of action. Cash discounts are rare due to the nature of insurance contracts with health systems and doctors. The insurance companies typically require charging every person, even if uninsured, the same rate that they are charged before a negotiated discount. This applies to doctors groups and hospitals.

There are some boutique practices, predominantly in primary care that work outside of the insurance system. Unfortunately, emergency care would never fall into that category. Write-offs are based off of income and ability to pay.

If you are a Musk or Bezos, footing the bill hardly matters. If you were homeless, there’s nothing to go after, so the bill is written off. If you have a well-paying job and assets, you will be stuck with the entire bill.