advice?

by Katie
(Shippenburg, PA)

I was rushed to the ER on February 26, 2010 due to ovarian cysts that were leaking fluid and caused me to be in extreme blinding pain, I couldn't even walk ( they thought it was appendicitis though so several tests were ran) . I never recieved paperwork (they said they sent it) in the mail after my visit so I figured the insurance company had recieved the claim. Then on Nov.19th, I was contacted during work by the collections agency stating that I owed over $5000 ( not sure the exact amount at the moment but it was over 5000) I tried to explain that I had insurance and I would submit the claim again but they told me it was too late to run the claim because I'm only given 120 days after the visit to resubmit and told me that I must set up a payment plan (which they have me starting my first payment on this Friday, 11/25) . I am a college student with loans and other financial obligations and cannot afford to pay that amount of money when the insurance is supposed to cover half of the costs. Please tell me if there is anything that I could do?

Also, I do not know how much the orginal claim is for? I did not realize that it would be different than the +$5000 amount. I live in Pennsyvlania.