it depends upon the hospital. some hospitals will write off debt which cannot be collected and others employ vampire collection attorneys to hunt down every unpaid dime.

best to check around and find out where your hospital stands on this issue. there are some who will file suit over a $100 outstanding balance. the court filing fees, service, attorney fees etc, are well over $100 so I've never understood why they waste their time with the smaller debts. plus, if the patient is dead broke, it's kinda hard to get blood out of a turnip.

these type of collection law firms do not care if you lost your job last week and are still recovering from the illness or disease that put you in the hospital in the first place, they will sue you anyway. wonderful people.