Arizona Medical Bills and Medical Debt

Can I get my bill reduced in Arizona?

Arizona has no state charity-care law. Nonprofit hospitals must follow the federal rules, and each hospital has its own policy: ask for it and for the application.

Is my debt too old in Arizona?

Kind of agreement	Time limit to sue
Written contract	6 years
Open account	3 years
Oral (spoken) agreement	3 years

A lawsuit on a debt based on a written contract signed in Arizona (or a credit card) must be filed within 6 years. A lawsuit on a debt not based on a written contract, or on a stated or open account, must be filed within 3 years.

What can restart the clock

Once the time limit has run, an acknowledgment of the debt counts only if it is in writing and signed by you.

When the clock starts

For a stated or open account, no item is barred as long as some item on the account was incurred within the 3 years before the lawsuit.

Law: A.R.S. 12-548, 12-543, 12-508

A time limit to sue can differ by kind of agreement, and when it starts and what restarts it can differ; a court decides.

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Can they sue me or report it in Arizona?

Credit reports

No state limit

Arizona has no state law limiting medical debt on credit reports.

Waiting rules

Arizona law sets no waiting period before a medical bill can be sent to collections or sued on.

Interest

Interest on medical debt can be no more than 3% a year, or the 1-year U.S. Treasury yield for the week before you were first billed, whichever is lower. The same cap applies to a court judgment on medical debt. Medical debt means any debt arising directly from health care services or medical products, including bills from hospitals, other licensed facilities, doctors' offices and clinics, and ambulances.

Liens on your home

Your home equity is protected from forced sale up to the homestead amount ($400,000, adjusted for inflation every January 1 since 2024). This applies to all debts, not only medical debt.

Wage garnishment

For any debt (other than support or taxes), no more than 10% of your weekly disposable earnings, or the amount above 60 times the highest applicable minimum hourly wage, whichever is less, can be garnished. This is stricter than federal law.

Bank account

$5,000 in one account at one financial institution is exempt (adjusted for inflation every January 1 since 2024). This applies to all debts.

Law: A.R.S. 44-1201(A)(1), (G); A.R.S. 33-1101; A.R.S. 33-1126(A)(9); A.R.S. 33-1131(B)

Surprise bills and ambulance bills in Arizona

State law

Arizona surprise out-of-network billing dispute law

Law: A.R.S. 20-3111 to 20-3122; A.R.S. 20-3111, 20-3112, 20-3113, 20-3114

Which plans it covers

Health insurance regulated by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. It does not apply to the state employee plan, self-funded employer plans covered by federal ERISA law, or plans with no out-of-network coverage.

What it adds

If you got a surprise bill from an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility (emergency care, or non-emergency care where you did not get or did not sign a written disclosure with an estimated cost), and you owe at least $1,000 after insurance and your cost sharing, you can ask the Department for an informal settlement conference and arbitration.

Ground ambulance

No state limit listed

Arizona has no state limit on ground ambulance bills that we list here. The federal No Surprises Act generally does not cover ground ambulances either, so ask the ambulance company about financial assistance and a payment plan.

Law: A.R.S. 20-3111, 20-3112, 20-3113, 20-3114

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Itemized bills and price estimates in Arizona

Arizona has no general state law giving you a right to an itemized bill within a set time. Use your federal rights to your billing records.

Price estimates

Licensed health care providers must make their direct-pay (cash) prices for at least their 25 most common services available on request or online (not for emergency care). Outpatient surgical centers, labs, imaging centers and urgent care centers must do the same for their most-used services. If you pay the posted direct-pay price in full, the bill is paid in full.

Law: A.R.S. 32-3216, 36-437

Health coverage and Medicaid in Arizona

AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) is Arizona's Medicaid program. Apply for it here:

Apply: AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System) · 855-432-7587

Where to complain in Arizona

Attorney general: Arizona Attorney General, Consumer Information and Complaints Unit · (602) 542-5763
A hospital, provider or collector charged more interest than allowed on medical debt, or treated you unfairly or deceptively.
Health insurance: Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) · 602-364-3100
A surprise out-of-network bill dispute or another problem with state-regulated health insurance. DIFI also licenses collection agencies.
Medicaid: AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid) · 855-432-7587
Questions about applying for AHCCCS, which can cover medical bills.

Free help in Arizona

Free tools, letters and checklist

Good to know in Arizona

Arizona's cap on medical debt interest (3% a year or less) also applies to court judgments on medical debt, and it covers ambulance bills.
Law: A.R.S. 44-1201(A)(1), (G)
Arizona's limit on wage garnishment for most debts is 10% of disposable earnings, lower than the federal 25%.
Law: A.R.S. 33-1131(B)

Changes in 2024–2026

Since January 1, 2024, the homestead, bank-account and other exemptions set by Proposition 209 (2022) are adjusted for inflation every year.

Law: A.R.S. 33-1101(D), 33-1126(A)(9)

Questions about medical bills in Arizona

How long can a medical bill be collected or sued on in Arizona?