text: can a hospital  sue for unpaid medical bill?   not only can they sue -- they will sue. and when (not if) they win, they will garnish your wages for the original bill plus hefty late fees and interest (usually done by the collection agency they turn your bill over to). i have several people working for me who are having their wages garnished now for medical bills. best get on, and stick to, a payment plan now. these bill do not just go away.   don't be fooled into thinking that a "non-profit" hospital is a "charity." the two words are not synonyms. this mentality is just one of the many causes of the rise in healthcare costs. hospitals spend millions trying to collect unpaid bills. if you were sick, and you received the care, you owe the money.