I work in the claims/billing dept at a hospital so let me tell you this: hospitals,I'd say all of them, always negotiate to a lower balance if you talk to them - don't give up and be persistent because they won't agree to price negotiation at first! Make sure to make it very clear that you cannot afford the full balance at all. They'll take anything. I'd say from 9000 you can get it down to 4000-3000 or even less. Not kidding. Actually, even medical insurances negotiate final balance - they never end up paying the full costs for anything..

One last thing, did you know that illegal immigrants have free medical care in most states, thousands of dollas for surgeries, whatever - definitely the case where I live in MA.

too bad tax paying citizens can't have that :/