The hospital would have worked out a better deal with you if you asked. However, if you don't ask, and just put yourself horribly into hock to pay them, they'l

The hospital would have worked out a better deal with you if you asked. However, if you don't ask, and just put yourself horribly into hock to pay them, they'll take the money. Likewise, if you refuse to pay, and they have to go to collections or the like, they'll apply the full, inflated amount.