I work as a biller for a Massachusetts hospital.
Keep in mind most of what I know is claims made in state.
If you can get MassHealth take it. Never listen to anyone who says otherwise. You'll get care that's just as good as any commercial insurance if you're in state. MassHealth patients are not responsible for any charges a hospital, or other healthcare facility tries to give you.
If you make less than $37k (sounds like you are alone and don't have anyone else in your household),get a connectorcare plan, (subsidized healthcare exchange plan), they're like any non medicaid/medicare insurance (meaning the the hospitals will try to get as much out of you as they can after your insurance pays and they adjust off the contractuals).
They are just as good/bad as any commercial insurance, but they have really really low monthly premiums and small copays.
https://www.mahealthconnector.org/wp-content/uploads/Guide_to_ConnectorCare.pdf
If you want to buy through the exchange and you make $50k it'll be this much for your premium
https://i.imgur.com/Lba9On1.png
$296.83 - $51 = $245.83 / month
Which is $2949.96 / year
Keep in mind that health insurance in America is based on the idiotic notion of having a provider be in or out of network. It wasn't made for people who move every 3-4 months. And a network IS NOT based on the location you receive it, a network isn't a hospital but a list of providers the insurance company says is okay to use. Meaning if somebody forgot to submit the paperwork to an insurance for a doctor who just did your 103 minute surgery with anesthesiology then they will not pay at full price.
They will try to charge you $15k for stuff like that.
To be fair about this to the insurance companies it is not hard to keep track of who you have working for you and the 20 insurance plans that make up 99% of your business.
You should never ever pay hospital bills just because you get them. My dad was billed $7000 after his commercial insurance refused to pay for a helicopter transfer to another hospital and they just adjusted it off after a while, didn't even affect his credit. Tell them you're not going to pay such a ridiculous bill, tell them I'm not going to collections. Demand to see each procedure code, look them up, question them. As of 2021 there is a law saying hospitals have to make their commercial insurance rates for each procedure code public. Ask them, why is my bill 300% more what any insurance would pay, and that you won't talk to them again until they adjust it.
Tell them that you simply will not pay if it's really outrageous. People make mistakes, insurance doesn't pay what they should sometimes, it's a mess, doesn't mean you should be on the hook for it.
DO NOT SET UP A PAYMENT JUST BECAUSE THEY ASK. DO NOT PAY HEALTHCARE DEBT ON A CREDIT CARD FOR GOD'S SAKE.
They may threaten you, but remember that non-profits can't go to the credit bureau legally if they want their non-profit status. And for profit hospitals are used to a certain amount of charity care.
You can get medical bills lowered from the ridiculous bills you see to something that seems okay.
If you get somethings like a $500 bill 2 years later don't pay it. Tell them I use by my insurance companies timely filing rules ;), you'd never bill blue cross two years later and expect them to pay, why should I?
We don't have a good system in America, there is no national healthcare system there is a patchwork of plans managed by 3 or 4 companies that has a stranglehold on the most important part of your life, health.
