I have a $22.351 hospital bill (no insurance) and I have a judgement against me. I live in New York. It was recently possed to me that I could get them (lawyers) to settle for half of this amount with payments made each month until it's gone. How realistic is this scenario? Would they really settle for for half? OR is Bankruptcy the obvious way to handle this?

If you have no other assest nor the prospect of gaining them, they might settle under the concept of half a loaf is better than none.. Doesn't hurt to ask.

Hospitals will often take 1/4 off if you just ask them. Without insurance you don't get any bill adjustments. Your 22,000 bill may have been reduced by a large percent by a contract with an insurance company. ( had you had insurance)

I have not paid my hosptial bill or x-ray or medical tests bills in full ever. ( that I can remember) I wait for them to bill and ask to settle in full for a smaller amount ( I have 100 success rate in it) now I do pay in full, not on payments)

But yes even without an attorney it is posssible to ask for that and get it.

Some hospitals will write off costs altogether, have financial assistance programs, etc, if you can, I would contact the patient finance folks at the hospital if you really can't afford to pay.