1. There are assistances available for low-net-worth and low income individuals. Have you tried those options?
2. Refuse to pay. Medical debt doesn't count against your credit and, based on my own experience, is almost impossible for the other party to collect, except some annoying phone calls.
I make a good living. I have some of the "best" available health insurance. It's just bordering on scam/fraudulent. Not aware of what programs you're talking about other than medi-cal (medicaid). Which I do not qualify for.
As I alluded in another post I do often let debt go to collections. The issue is often not the collections calls, but that your provider will be even more aggressive about demanding up front payment to continue receiving care. Or stop seeing you. I have a rare neuro muscular disease that only a handful of doctors are even very knowledgeable about where I live.
But you would probably not qualify for something like this due to income. I happened to have a minor accident while unemployed (<$10k income that year) about 10 years ago, and the hospital financial aid forgave most of the cost.
2. Refuse to pay. Medical debt doesn't count against your credit and, based on my own experience, is almost impossible for the other party to collect, except some annoying phone calls.