A college student says she ended up in the hospital after drinking Alani Nu energy drinks, and she recently filmed herself opening the bill for that visit. The video, posted by a TikTok creator with username @cailinnh, has been viewed more than 248,700 times and has received over 33,200 likes.
In the video, Cailinn said, “So Alani put me in the hospital about a month ago, and my hospital bill just came in.” She then told viewers, “Let’s open it together. I have no idea what this amount is going to be.”
She described herself as “a broke college student” before opening the envelope on camera. After opening the bill, Cailinn said the amount she owed was “$1,685.74.”
She says she owes over $1,600 with a three-week deadline
She pointed out the payment deadline, saying, “Oh, and it’s due August 7th, and today is July 14th, so I have three weeks to come up with $1,600.” She then explained the full cost of the visit, saying, “The total cost of my Alani Hospital trip: $5,834.88.” She added, “So insurance paid $4,100, and I still owe $1,685.74.”
Cailinn said the final bill did not match what she said she was told at the hospital. She said, “Which is incredibly confusing because when I was at the hospital I asked, can I just pay now? And they said it’d be $1,500 for me to walk out the door and I don’t have to worry about anything. So why is it now $5,800?” Unexpected hospital bills can leave patients confused, as when a Florida hospital misdiagnosed a 13-year-old and later sent her mother a $10,000 bill.
She reacted with visible frustration in the video, touching her forehead before addressing the cost of healthcare in the United States. Cailinn said, “My mom’s gonna beat me. I’m not even kidding, next time I think I have a heart attack, I’m just gonna have a heart attack and die. Because why can’t I get healthcare without literally missing out like That’s my month’s salary. I’m just gonna die next time.” Her concerns about Alani Nu’s potential health effects are not isolated – a South Carolina woman felt a thud at the bottom of her can after drinking it.
Viewers left a range of comments on the video, some sharing their own experiences with hospital bills. One commenter wrote, “So basically if you’re not rich you’re dead.” Another commenter suggested a possible option for paying off the bill, writing, “if you do a payment plan it’s like a credit card you only have to pay like $100 a month until it’s paid off it’ll be ok!”
One person commented on the broader cost of living, writing, “Life has become so expensive that it’s disgusting.” A separate commenter suggested Cailinn look into other options, writing, “just ask for financial assistance. they’ll waiver it especially when it’s your monthly salary.”
Another commenter shared a similar experience, writing, “passed out in the dining hall at college from extreme dehydration and had to get 7 stitches in my chin was at the hospital for less than 3hr and my bill was $22k.”
The video did not include further details about her diagnosis or treatment, and it is not clear from the video what medical care she received during the hospital visit.
Published: Jul 22, 2026 04:56 am