Uninsured ER Bill and Getting Insurance Advice?

Hey y’all, so was in a bit of a situation as of recently. I was under my mothers health insurance policy but got cut off when I turned 26 years old (6 months ago). Forgive my ignorance but I did not know this was the cutoff, therefore I have bee n without insurance since then. Open Enrollment came and went in August at my company and I didn’t sign up for coverage since I didn’t know.

Come late August, I had a small wound that got really infected so in a scared and frantic decision decided to go to the ER at night. I presented my insurance card thinking I still have it, I see a doctor, they look at my wound visually and prescribe antibiotics. Super easy, wound goes away within two weeks and I’m golden. However, I get a bill for $1000 but I noticed insurance hasn’t been applied. I call and they say that I don’t have insurance. I call my insurance and they confirmed that it was cut off six months ago.

Now I’m left to this $1000 ER bill which the hospital is offering $150 discount if I pay within these next five days. Does anyone have any advice for me? Is there anything I can do? I live in Texas by the way and don’t have enough right now to pay $850 or even the $1000.

Also, anyone know what are my options for insurance? I tried talking to my HR representative and they said that the odds of them accepting my qualifying life event is very low since I have been cut off for six months already.

Any advise or info would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. 26, Texas, 50K.