<prompt> Human: So my moms health insurance took me off the day I turned 18, however we didnt have knowledge of this till a week after I went to the emergency room, and I went to the ER the day after my 18th birthday. I owe them 1003 and Im trying to fix my credit, how big of an impact is medical on your credit score? Should I pay it off or just let it slide?  <response>: Write a letter to the billing department explaining your financial situation. My father had 50k owed and the hospital forgave it. My friend had 80k and was also forgiven. Im not saying I agree with the practice, but considering how many people cant afford medical emergencies, this is what tends to happen. Hospitals know that a lot of the services they provide will not be paid. 