If the government took over health care.

[obliviously]

What would happen if you owed a hospital or medical center a previous outstanding bill?
Would you have to pay the government like maybe the IRS or would we start over clean?
I have never heard this addressed.

[Oregone]

1. No, you wouldn't have to pay the government!

The government becomes the PAYER, not the biller. The debt would still be owed to the facility (which the government would not own suddenly). Depending on how the bill was drafted, either you would still owe it or the single-payer system would retroactively pay outstanding bills for you. It just comes down to who is writing the bill.

In some single-payer systems, if you get care before you are covered, its possible to get reimbursed after coverage starts. This is a similar scenario.

[blurp]

2. 90% of hospitals are already government owned

And they already get tax money to fill the gaps left by those that can't pay.

[Buck Laser]

3. I thought most hospitals are mostly for-profit...has that changed?

Obviously most hospitals get medicare payments, research grants, etc., but I wonder if you could back your statement with a reference.