As I understand it, as long as you make a payment monthly, even as little as $5, on a medical bill, it can not be turned over to a collection agency.

That has not been my experience, here, Sins. One hospital bill of mine, form before I was insured, was supposed to have been paid off in a year, according to the hospital. They neglected to tell me that when I signed admittance papers. Fortunately I know how to argue my case and had some back-up from their accts. receivables person, so they accept it will take me longer to pay off over $13,000.