<prompt> Human: I have some medical debt I cant afford. Around 7000. I already called the hospital and asked to lower the cost. In response to every call, theyve said I cant lower the total cost because you are insured, but here are the terms for our 6 month payment plan. The problem is: I cant afford the payment plan!In the past, Ive had medical debt in collections with agencies that gave me an opportunity to pay before the debtdelinquency ever showed up on my credit report. But... In that case, the debt was actually invalid. Instead of calling to make a payment, I called to tell them I wasnt responsible for the debt.So my question is: Could I allow my current, valid medical debt to be assumed by a collections agency, then call to negotiate lower payments before the nonpayment shows up on my credit report? Or would it be automatically reported to the credit bureaus once I assumed responsibility, regardless of how quickly I paid the bills?Any insight will be appreciated.Assistant: They dont offer extended payment plans?Human: I talked with them until they gave me the terms to a 9 month plan. But I still cant afford it. Didnt seem worth mentioning, tbh. Based on the comments so far, I think my best option is to keep calling back and hope to speak with someone more willing to be flexible.Assistant: If you have a low enough income, as youve mentioned in other posts, you can apply for financial assistance.Human: From whom? The hospital? The government?I planned on mentioning it next time I called, but beyond that Im unsure of what steps to take.  <response>: With the hospital. They basically write off your expenses as charity or something like that.Here is my experience: 1. Call them and ask for the forms. Insist on it, I had to go to a second person before they understood what I was asking for.2. They will freeze your account so it does not go into collections and give you 20 days to fill out the form. The form asks for your salary, savings account, any debts, rent, other monthly costs, etc.3. They will respond within a weeks time with an offer of financial assistance or They will unfreeze your account and you are back where you started before step 1. Regardless, you have nothing to lose to try and call them. 