. >> reporter: it's been a year since crippling back pain sent frank esposito to the doctd, "nh closesteporter: this 59-year-old tool and die maker from long island says he could barely move. >> it wasn't an elective thing. >> reporter: it was that obvious? >> it was that obvious. >> reporter: you couldn't even walk. doctors told esposito he needed immediate surgery. that a herniated disc in his spinal column threatened to leave him permanently paralyzed. >> the pain was bad. i never thought it would end. >> reporter: but the surgery was just the beginning of esposito's nightmare. he has private insurance, so you might think, as he did, that he was covered for this kind of emergency, but just weeks into his seven month recovery, the bills started pouring in. this says the amount you owe is -- >> $256,000. it's mind-boggling. that's only one doctor. >> reporter: esposito was on the hook for over $650,000 in bills, including $256,000 for the orthopedic surgeon who fused his spine, $220,000 for the neurosurgeon, and another $53,000 for a doctor who monitored his breathing. he was denied co

that's just not a good syste >> reporter: frank esposito has taken $49,000 from his 401(k) to pay downe of his bills. he has hired a medical billing specialist and even appealed to the state. but he still owes more than $220,000. >> you need to be able to know that you can do this, that you're going to get the care you need, that you're not going to be destitute by the time you're done. >> reporter: after appeals, esposito's insurer, oxford united healthcare, paid some of his doctors' bills. we're still waiting for a response as to the remaining $220,000 bill. now, as part of this series, we want to hear what you're paying for medical procedures. go to cbsnews.com/healthcosts and click onhe link to share what you paid. you can also search prices in the two markets already surveyed by our partner, clearhealthcosts. that's dallas and san francisco. margaret? >> brennan: important reporting. it's going to be a key issue for voters, that's for sure. a lot of people are naming this their number-one issue. anna, thank you. there is much more ahead on tonight's "cbs evening news." caribbean i

frank esposito says his doctor told him he needed emergency back surgery or he could face paralysis. then, over $650,000 in bills arrived. >> what was my choice? just be paralyzed for the rest of my life? it was bad enough bein' outta work, and not being able to make a paycheck. but then to get these bills that were so overwhelming. and you say, this can't be real, i mean, i really don't have to pay this. how am i gonna pay this? and you sit there. and you start cryin' cause you don't know what you're gonna do. you have no sense of, of reality anymore. you don't know what you're gonna do. >> diaz: our new series "medical price roulette" begins tomorrow, on "cbs this morning" and the cbs evening news with norah o'donnell. straight ahead on the "cbs weekend news," chanel miller-- the sexual assault survivor whose words helped spark the "me too" movement-- speaks out. also, why are billions of birds disappearing from the sky? and the women of afghanistan-- refusing to turn back, if the taliban returns. >> diaz: for nearly five years, she has remained anonymous and silent. but now, chane

well, after more than a year of appeals, frank esposito still owed $220,000. tonight, oxford united healthcare tells us it will pay that claim. esposito will only owe his usual co-pays. the break came after new york governor andrew cuomo saw our story, and he told state officials to look into esposito's case. up next, when the unthinkable happened, they jumped into action. >> o'donnell: tonight, new york >> o'donnell: tonight, new york is celebrating two men who witnessed a tragedy on a subway platform, but helped save a life. on monday, jairo torres and antonio love jumped onto the tracks and rescued a little girl from under a train. her father had jumped in front of it, with her in his arms. he was killed. well today, the two men were honored for their heroics. the girl is okay tonight and back with her family. finally tonight, some of you might be wondering where i've been the last few days. well, i have just returned from saudi arabia, where we conducted a rare interview with crown prince mohammad bin salman. you can see that interview this sunday on the 5

frank esposito still owed more than $222,000.ill pay that change. esposito will only owe his usual copays. the break came after new york governor andrew cuomo saw our story and told state officials to look into esposito's case. >>> up next, when the unthinkable happened, they jumped into action. >>> new york is celebrating two men who witnessed a tragedy on a subway platform, but helped save a life. on monday, jairo torres and antonio love jumped on to the tracks and rescued a little girl from under a train. her father had jumped in front of it with her in his arms. he was killed. well, today the two men were honored for their heroics. the girl is okay tonight and back with her family. >>> finally tonight, some of you might be wondering where i've been the last few days. well, i've just returned from saudi arabia where we conducted a rare interview with crown prince mohammad bin salman. you can see that interview this sunday on the 52nd season premiere of "60 minutes." i'm norah o'donnell in new york. thank you so much for watchi

. >> reporter: frank esposito is a tool and die maker who for the last year has been fighting for hisinancial life. a fight he says began last march with unrelenting back pain. >> it's the kind of back pain that wouldn't go away no matter what you do. >> reporter: he's an active person but says back then he could barely move. an mri soon showed a bulge in his spine, a herniated disk. when he went to see a specialist -- >> he said, you need to go to the closest hospital immediately. >> reporter: immediately? >> immediately. >> reporter: he says doctors at the emergency room told him he needed surgery. >> herniation was so severe that it could have severed my nerve in half.ind li. >> reporter: the next day they prepared a fusion, which he says successfully relieved his pain, but the next month, the bills started coming. your statement says, please pay $220,850. >> correct. >> reporter: and that was just one bill. in total his bills added up to over $650,000. money his insurance company said he would have to pay. they claimed his back surgery was not an emergency and not medically necess

esposito from new york. he was hit with more than $650,000 in bills after emergency back surgery. frank'snsurance covered some of the cost, but he still owed $220,000. >> you say it, this can't be real. i mean, i don't have to pay this. how -- how am i going to pay this? you sit there and start crying because you don't know what you're going to do. >> after our story aired, esposito is get something relief. oxford united health care will pay the remaining $220,000 claim. the move comes after new york governor andrew cuomo saw our story and told state officials to look into esposito's case. >>> coming up on the morning news now, post-election surprise. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu gets a chance to keep his job. >>> and royal nickname. the duke and duchess reveal the cute name they call their baby. >>> this is the "cbs morning news." news." (beep) the ups and downs of frequent mood swings can plummet you to extreme lows. (crying) lift you to intense highs. (muffled arguing) or, make you feel both at once. overwhelmed by bipolar i symptoms? ask about vraylar. some medications on