If you cannot afford the amount owed to your health care provider, I suggest that you consult with its accounts receivables department and try and work out a monthly installment payment. Such will prevent your account from being sent to collections most likely so long as you are current on any agreed upon monthly installments.The debt assuming it is reported to collections will only show up once on your credit report assuming it is reported. Key is to try and work things out sooner rather than later.