I've been in this situation. Basically, there is not a whole lot the hospital can do. They really don't do much different from what any creditor would do. One major difference, though, is that they often have programs for people with low incomes. In some cases they just forgive the debt. For that to happen, though, you have to disclose your financial situation . . . income, assets, etc. Like others above, I would definitely look into that first.

One of the main reasons people file bankruptcy is to unload medical debt. Medical debt is no more protected than consumer debt. It's not like student loan debt that you can't ever get rid of.

Ask yourself what you have to gain by trying to pay it off. Do you have a good credit score that you'ld like to keep. Do you have assets that you would be afraid to lose.

If you are in a low income bracket and don't have a reasonable expectation of that changing in the future, then you don't have all that much to lose by not paying off the debt. They will telephone you for awhile. Then they'll turn the debt over to a collection agency, who will also call you for awhile. My experience is that, eventually, they just give up. It really is that simple.