My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Missouri

Hello, experts,

I received a CT scan and ultrasound at Saint Louis University Hospital (aka, SluCare) through their radiology facility, TennetCare. I was never told pricing at any point before I received the billing and insurance information. I had no idea what the perspective on radiology pricing would be. I knew I had bad insurance, but I thought their cap payment would at least cover a minor amount of the cost. In fact, that was the understatement of the century. My insurance, a limited benefits plan through Reliance Standard Life, covered about 2% of the cost of the procedures, and now I'm stuck with $7000 in debt. I certainly was not aware that, for all practical purposes, I have no insurance; rather, I'm lighting a nauseating amount of my money on fire by paying them, and, for some reason, I'm still too terrified to cancel the plan because it's all I can get.

I should have asked about prices, but hindsight is 20/20. Regardless, the billing department is attempting to force me into a payment plan of $180 a month for the next several years. My wife and I are just starting out in this world together, and to pay that amount of money monthly is more than we can bear. They have stated that, even if we DO pay them monthly, if we do not pay the full $180, they will send the bill to a collections agency.

My questions are thus:
1. The billing department is in a state other than Missouri. Which state laws regarding collections apply to the bills: Missouri's or those of the billing department state?
2. Regardless of hospital policies, is it legal for them to send the bill to collections if we remit the payment we can actually manage? I have signed no contracts and made no further legally-binding agreements other than those required to get the procedure, which would require clarification because I was never given a copy of any agreements I may have signed for my review.

Thanks,
makmrb