Has it gone to collections yet? Or still just being billed by the hosptial?...if still being billed by the hospital than like the other poster suggested you may be able to work with them, so maybe call and see if they have any programs to help people pay or if they can reduce it or set up a reasonable payment plan.

Otherwise if you can't pay it, it goes to collections and then they try to collect it...though you can send them a letter telling them not to contact you, however if they choose to pursue legal action than I imagine you have to go to court or whatever. I have unpaid hospital/ambulance bills not as much as yours probably but still money I don't have to pay so I'm really just hoping the collections agencies don't take legal action, even if they do that will not put me in a position where I could pay it really.