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[mauve]

1) is this stuff that might have been covered by your insurance / did you have insurance or is it maybe related to some sort of work accident or a car accident?

2) have you talked to the OC?  these are pretty recent.  The OC might still own the debt, and they're easier to deal with.

3) don't lose hope.

Ideally, you want to contact the OC and work out payment with them and have them pull back the CA(s).  However, if this is work or car accident related, you'll want to work with the insurance and the OC to see what should really be covered.  If that applies, it might be short-term a huge inconvenience but could really pay off. 

Also, see if your financial aid office has any options for you.  

[brenda1924]

Talk to hospital and let them know the situation.  There are times where they will discount an already discounted bill and then set you up on a payment plan of something like $10 a month...depending on the situation of course.  Also since you haven't made payment to a creditor yet, you may want to google the pre HIPPA process..

[mauve]

HIPAA process works if you can PIF.

The OC might be able to work with you even if they're in collections.  It depends on the relationship between the CA and OC.  And brenda is right, hospitals frequently will change the rates (to lower ones) for people who are basically paying out of pocket.

[guiness56]

Most hospitals have a financial aid department.  You fill out paperwork and they either forgive the entire amount of the debt or will lower it considerably, based on your situtation.  The forgiven debt is truly forgiven and will not come back to bite you in the butt later on.

That would be the first place I stopped, the OC office.

[mauve]

Breathe deeply and don't lose hope!