Medical debt and credit reports
There is no federal ban on medical debt in credit reports. A 2025 federal rule that would have removed most medical debt was struck down. Many states have their own limits, but whether those limits can be enforced against credit bureaus is being decided in court.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
The federal time limits
- A collection account generally cannot be reported for more than 7 years. The 7 years start 180 days after the date you first fell behind on the bill.
Law: 15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)(4), (c)(1)
- For a veteran's medical debt (care authorized by the VA from a non-VA provider, or a bill the VA charged in error), nationwide credit bureaus may not report it until 1 year after the care, and may not report it once it is fully paid or settled, when they know it is a veteran's medical debt.
Law: 15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)(7), (8); 15 U.S.C. 1681a
The federal rule and the courts
- In January 2025 the CFPB issued a rule to keep most medical debt off credit reports. On July 11, 2025 a federal court in Texas vacated (cancelled) that rule at the joint request of the CFPB and the plaintiffs. The rule is not in effect.
Law: Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB, No. 4:25-cv-16 (E.D. Tex. July 11, 2025); CFPB
- On October 28, 2025 the CFPB published its view that the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act generally overrides (preempts) state laws that keep categories of information such as medical debt off credit reports. The CFPB also said its guidance is not binding and that courts decide these questions.
Law: CFPB interpretive rule, Fair Credit Reporting Act; Preemption of State Laws, 90 FR 48710 (Oct. 28, 2025)
- On August 10, 2026 a federal court in Texas declared that a Texas law barring credit bureaus from reporting certain out-of-network medical debt is preempted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and barred the state from enforcing it. That ruling is about the Texas law; laws in other states are decided case by case.
Law: Consumer Data Industry Ass'n v. Texas, No. 1:19-CV-876-RP (W.D. Tex. Aug. 10, 2026)
- Many state laws limit the hospital, the provider or the collector, not only the credit bureau, for example by forbidding them to report medical debt at all. See your state's page for what your state's law says.
Law: See state page
Checking and disputing your report
- If a medical debt on your credit report is wrong, you can dispute it with the credit bureau for free.
Law: 15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(1)
- You can get free credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site.
Law: 15 U.S.C. 1681j(a)
What collectors must do
- A debt collector may not report a debt to a credit bureau before it has contacted you about the debt, by speaking with you or by sending a letter or electronic message and waiting a reasonable time (14 days) for a notice that it could not be delivered.
Law: 12 CFR 1006.30(a)
- A debt collector must not sue or threaten to sue you on a time-barred debt, meaning a debt whose statute of limitations has run out.
Law: 12 CFR 1006.26(b)
State laws on top of the federal rules
States with a full ban in state law
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
States with a partial limit
Quick answers
How long can medical debt stay on my credit report?
A collection account generally cannot be reported for more than 7 years. The 7 years start 180 days after the date you first fell behind on the bill.
Are there different rules for veterans?
For a veteran's medical debt (care authorized by the VA from a non-VA provider, or a bill the VA charged in error), nationwide credit bureaus may not report it until 1 year after the care, and may not report it once it is fully paid or settled, when they know it is a veteran's medical debt.
What happened to the federal medical debt rule?
In January 2025 the CFPB issued a rule to keep most medical debt off credit reports.
How do I dispute an error on my report?
If a medical debt on your credit report is wrong, you can dispute it with the credit bureau for free.
Free help
Free help can look at your bill and your letters. Legal aid groups, state insurance departments and the federal help desk do not charge for this.