Medical bills in Michigan: free care, credit reports and your rights
Michigan has no state charity-care law; nonprofit hospitals must still follow federal rules.
Michigan has no state law that keeps medical debt off credit reports; the federal 7-year limit still applies.
Charity care means free or discounted care for people with low income. Hospitals also call it financial assistance.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
Federal rules for nonprofit hospitals apply in every state. Free help can review your bill.
Can I get my bill reduced in Michigan?
Michigan 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 Michigan?
| Kind of agreement | Time limit to sue |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Open account | 6 years |
| Oral (spoken) agreement | 6 years |
A lawsuit for money due for breach of a contract, written or not, must be filed within 6 years. Other personal actions not covered by a specific statute also have 6 years.
- What can restart the clock
A debt that is already time-barred is revived only by an acknowledgment or promise to pay that is in writing and signed by you.
- When the clock starts
For a mutual and open account, the claim starts at the time of the last item proved in the account.
Law: MCL 600.5807(9), 600.5813, 600.5831, 600.5866
A time limit to sue can differ by kind of agreement, and when it starts and what restarts it can differ; a court decides.
Can they sue me or report it in Michigan?
- Credit reports
No state limit
Michigan has no state law that keeps medical debt off credit reports.
- Waiting rules
Michigan has no state waiting period before a medical bill can be sent to collections or a lawsuit filed.
Surprise bills and ambulance bills in Michigan
- State law
Michigan surprise medical billing law
Law: Public Health Code Article 18, Part 245; MCL 333.24501-333.24517 (esp. 333.24507, 333.24509)
- Which plans it covers
Health insurance and HMO plans regulated by the Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS), and self-funded plans of the State of Michigan and local governments for their employees.
- What it adds
An out-of-network doctor or other licensed professional may collect only your in-network copay, coinsurance or deductible for emergency care at any facility, for care during a hospital stay that began within 72 hours of an emergency room visit, and for non-emergency care at an in-network facility (hospital, surgery center, skilled nursing facility, doctor's office, lab or imaging center) if you could not choose an in-network provider or were not given the required disclosure.
- Ground ambulance
No state limit listed
Michigan 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: MCL 333.24501-333.24517 (esp. 333.24507, 333.24509)
Itemized bills and price estimates in Michigan
As a patient of a licensed health facility, you are entitled to receive and examine an explanation of your bill, no matter who pays it.
Law: MCL 333.20201(2)(i)
Price estimates
An out-of-network provider giving you scheduled non-emergency care must give you a good-faith estimate of the cost along with a signed disclosure. If the provider does not give the disclosure, it may collect only your in-network cost sharing.
Law: MCL 333.24509
Health coverage and Medicaid in Michigan
Michigan Medicaid (including the Healthy Michigan Plan) is Michigan's Medicaid program. Apply for it here:
Apply: Michigan Medicaid (including the Healthy Michigan Plan)
Where to complain in Michigan
- Health insurance: Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) · 877-999-6442
A surprise bill or another problem with a health plan regulated by DIFS. - Attorney general: Michigan Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection · 877-765-8388
Unfair billing or collection practices by a business or debt collector. - Hospital licensing: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems
A complaint about a licensed hospital or other health facility.
Free help in Michigan
Free tools, letters and checklist
Good to know in Michigan
- Michigan's surprise billing law also covers self-funded health plans of the state and local governments for their employees.
Law: MCL 333.24502(1)(b), (5)
- For covered surprise bills, the insurer must pay the out-of-network provider at least the greater of its median in-network rate or 150% of Medicare, and the provider may not collect more than your in-network cost sharing from you.
Law: MCL 333.24507(2), (4)
- The State of Michigan pays the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to buy and erase some hospital medical debt for people with income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or medical debt of 5% or more of yearly income. You cannot apply; people whose debt is erased get a letter in the mail (Office of the Governor, press release of Oct. 14, 2026).
Questions about medical bills in Michigan
How long can a medical bill be collected or sued on in Michigan?
A lawsuit for money due for breach of a contract, written or not, must be filed within 6 years. Other personal actions not covered by a specific statute also have 6 years.
More help
Nearby states
Sources
- MCL 333.24501-333.24517 (Michigan Legislature)
- MCL 333.24502, 333.24504 (definitions)
- MCL 333.24509
- MCL 333.20201
- MCL 600.5807
- MCL 600.5813
- MCL 600.5831
- MCL 600.5866
- DIFS: What consumers need to know about surprise medical billing (FIS-PUB 8540)
- DIFS: Filing a health insurance complaint
- 2025 Senate Bills 449-451 (pending)
- Office of the Governor: Third round of medical debt relief (Oct. 14, 2026)