Alright, so here's my situation. I'm uninsured and unemployed. It's a long story, but basically I have a rare genetic disease, and I'm fighting for help in a state that can't really provide it. And I have tried everything including the ACA. But I digress.

A GoFundMe donation enabled me to see a geneticist, who diagnosed me with the genetic disease. She also gave me a referral to see another doctor, who could evaluate me for additional problems that coincide with the genetic disease. We'll call him "Dr. S."

Because I am uninsured and unemployed, I called Dr. S's office and asked about my options. I spoke with the office manager. We'll call her "Charlene." She told me that I could simply make an appointment, choose to pay later, and apply for their financial assistance program once I got the bill. So that's what I did.

On the day of the appointment, I went through the motions. Sign in, complete paperwork, wait, see a nurse, see a doctor, etc. But when I went to check out, the receptionist informed me that their financial assistance program only applies to hospital visits. I tried to explain what Charlene said and tried to explain my situation, but it was futile.

About a week later, I got a bill for $675. I called Charlene, I called the front desk receptionists, the billing department, and I called the main customer service line - all multiple times. I keep explaining my situation and repeating Charlene's initial claim. But no one is telling me anything helpful. All they keep saying is that I have to pay at least $50 every month, and that they applied a discount to the bill. That doesn't address my concerns, though.

During one of those phone calls, a receptionist told me that there's a program that patients can apply to if they can't do the payment plan. But of course she couldn't remember the name of it. So I called Charlene and relayed all of this to her. She simply said, "I'll look into it."

So I stupidly assumed she was on top of it. Then, today, I received a letter in the mail explaining that the bill had gone into collections.

I am livid, because if I had known that their financial assistance policy only applies hospital visits, I never would have made the appointment in the first place. They told me the wrong information, and now I have to clean up the mess. But I can't. I don't know what to do.

I have emailed my geneticist and told her what happened, and nothing came of it. I have filed a complaint with my state's medical boards, and nothing came of it. I have called everyone there is to call, and it's getting me nowhere.

What are my options?