Hospital put me in collections

I got the mail yesterday....a couple of Christmas cards and an envelope with a company I did not recognize....I opened it and found out I am in collections for the medical bills I can not pay. I worked hard all my life to have a good credit report.....and now I am in collections. It is not like I charged things and could not pay....just could not pay the HMO all the money I owe them. I will again get benefits next month, but that will not help me. You can't get blood from a turnip. Things just don't seem merry around here.