Medical bills in Virginia: free care, credit reports and your rights
Virginia has no state charity-care law; nonprofit hospitals must still follow federal rules.
Virginia law bans medical debt from credit reports.
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 Virginia?
Virginia 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.
- Who can get help
State law does not set who qualifies; each hospital's financial assistance policy decides. The screening and payment plan rules protect uninsured patients.
- Other providers
The Medical Debt Protection Act's limits on interest, extraordinary collection actions and debt sales apply to all medical creditors and collectors, not only hospitals; some rules apply to large outpatient practices with at least $20 million in yearly revenue.
Law: Va. Code 32.1-137.01, 32.1-137.010; Va. Code 59.1-611, 59.1-612(G)
Is my debt too old in Virginia?
| Kind of agreement | Time limit to sue |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 5 years |
| Open account | 3 years |
| Oral (spoken) agreement | 3 years |
| Medical debt (set by statute) | 3 years |
A lawsuit to collect medical debt owed directly to a health care provider must be filed within 3 years from the due date of the final invoice, unless a payment plan with the provider allows longer; if you break a payment plan, within 3 years from the breach. This rule does not apply to services paid for under Medicaid programs. For other contracts: 5 years if written and signed by you; 3 years if unwritten, or written but not signed.
- What can restart the clock
A written, signed promise to pay, or a written acknowledgment from which a promise can be implied, gives the creditor a new period from the date of the promise.
- When the clock starts
For medical debt, the 3 years run from the due date of the final invoice for the service (or from the date you broke a payment plan).
Law: Va. Code 8.01-246(A), (B); Va. Code 8.01-229(G)
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 Virginia?
- Credit reports
Full ban
Hospitals and other medical care facilities, licensed health professionals and ambulance agencies may not report any part of a medical debt to a credit bureau.
- Waiting rules
No medical creditor or collector may take an extraordinary collection action (such as suing you, garnishing wages, seizing a bank account, putting a lien on property, selling the debt or reporting it to a credit bureau) until 120 days after the due date of the final invoice. At least 30 days before such an action, you must get a notice saying whether financial assistance is available (with a plain-language summary for large facilities), which actions will be taken, and a deadline at least 30 days away. Hospitals must also make all reasonable efforts to check whether you qualify for Medicaid or financial assistance before such actions.
- Interest
At most 3% a year
Hospitals, other large health care facilities and medical debt buyers may not charge interest or late fees on medical debt until 90 days after the due date of the final invoice, and then no more than 3% of the debt a year. A buyer of medical debt must agree not to charge more than 3% interest. Hospital payment plans for uninsured patients may not have fees, and interest may not exceed the state's judgment interest rate.
Law: Va. Code 6.2-302, generally 6% a year; Va. Code 59.1-611, 59.1-612; Va. Code 32.1-137.010(C), (E)
- Liens on your home
No medical creditor or collector may foreclose on your real property to collect a medical debt, or put a lien on your personal property.
- Wage garnishment
No medical creditor or collector may garnish your wages if you qualify for financial assistance under the policy that applies to the debt.
- Selling the debt
A medical creditor may sell medical debt only under a written agreement that bars the buyer from the banned collection actions, limits interest to 3% a year, lets the debt be returned if you qualify for financial assistance, and makes sure you never pay more than you owe. The original creditor stays responsible for what the buyer does.
- Lawsuit rules
No medical creditor or collector may have you arrested or subjected to a writ of body attachment over medical debt. A large health care facility (and its collector) may use only extraordinary collection actions described in its billing and collections policy.
Law: Va. Code 59.1-611, 59.1-612; Va. Code 32.1-137.010(C), (E); Va. Code 6.2-302
Payment plans and interest in Virginia
- Hospitals must offer a payment plan
A hospital must tell every uninsured patient who qualifies under its financial assistance policy about the option of a payment plan. The plan must be in writing or electronic, and the monthly amount and length are based on your ability to pay. Interest may not exceed the judgment rate, and the hospital may not charge fees for the plan or for renegotiating it. You may pay early without penalty, and you or the hospital may ask to renegotiate the plan, with a new screening.
Law: Va. Code 32.1-137.010(C), (D), (F)
Surprise bills and ambulance bills in Virginia
- State law
Virginia balance billing law
- Which plans it covers
Health insurance and HMO plans regulated by Virginia, Virginia state employee health plans, and self-funded employer plans that choose to opt in (the State Corporation Commission keeps a list).
- What it adds
An out-of-network provider may not balance bill you for emergency services, or for surgical or ancillary services at an in-network facility. You pay only your in-network cost sharing, and if you paid more, the provider must refund it within 30 business days.
- Ground ambulance
No state limit listed
Virginia 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: Va. Code 38.2-3445.01 to 38.2-3445.07
Itemized bills and price estimates in Virginia
Before extraordinary collection actions, you must get a written notice about financial assistance and the planned actions.
Law: Va. Code 59.1-612(E)
Price estimates
If you are scheduled for an elective procedure, test or service at a hospital and ask at least 3 days ahead, the hospital must give you an estimate of the amount you will have to pay. Hospitals must post a notice about this right and must post their standard charges online.
Law: Va. Code 32.1-137.05
Health coverage and Medicaid in Virginia
Cardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid and FAMIS) is Virginia's Medicaid program. Apply for it here:
Apply: Cardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid and FAMIS) · 1-855-242-8282
Where to complain in Virginia
- Attorney general: Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, Consumer Protection Section · 1-800-552-9963
A hospital, provider or collector broke the Medical Debt Protection Act or the medical debt credit-reporting ban (these are enforced under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act). - Health insurance: State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance
A balance bill or surprise bill under a Virginia-regulated plan, or another problem with your health insurer. - Hospital licensing: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification · 1-800-955-1819
A complaint about a licensed hospital or other health care facility.
Free help in Virginia
Free tools, letters and checklist
Good to know in Virginia
- Virginia's 3-year time limit to sue on medical debt runs from the due date of the final invoice, not from the date of care.
Law: Va. Code 8.01-246(B)
- No medical creditor or collector may cause your arrest or a writ of body attachment to collect medical debt.
Law: Va. Code 59.1-612(B)
- Violations of the Medical Debt Protection Act are violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.
Law: Va. Code 59.1-613
Changes in 2024–2026
July 1, 2024: ban on reporting medical debt to credit bureaus and 3-year time limit for medical debt lawsuits. 2025: Medical Debt Protection Act: 3% interest cap, 120-day wait and 30-day notice before extraordinary collection actions, limits on liens, garnishment and debt sales.
Law: 2024 Acts ch. 751, Va. Code 59.1-444.4; 2024 Acts ch. 800, Va. Code 8.01-246(B); 2025 Acts ch. 692; Va. Code 59.1-611 to 59.1-613
Questions about medical bills in Virginia
Can medical debt be reported to credit bureaus in Virginia?
Virginia law bans medical debt from credit reports. Hospitals and other medical care facilities, licensed health professionals and ambulance agencies may not report any part of a medical debt to a credit bureau.
How long can a medical bill be collected or sued on in Virginia?
A lawsuit to collect medical debt owed directly to a health care provider must be filed within 3 years from the due date of the final invoice, unless a payment plan with the provider allows longer; if you break a payment plan, within 3 years from the breach. This rule does not apply to services paid for under Medicaid programs.
Can a medical debt lead to wage garnishment or a lien on my home in Virginia?
No medical creditor or collector may garnish your wages if you qualify for financial assistance under the policy that applies to the debt.
Can I get a payment plan for a hospital bill in Virginia?
A hospital must tell every uninsured patient who qualifies under its financial assistance policy about the option of a payment plan. The plan must be in writing or electronic, and the monthly amount and length are based on your ability to pay.
More help
Nearby states
Sources
- Va. Code 59.1-611 to 59.1-613 (Medical Debt Protection Act)
- Va. Code 59.1-444.4
- Va. Code 59.1-444.1
- Va. Code 32.1-137.01
- Va. Code 32.1-137.010
- Va. Code 32.1-137.05
- Va. Code 8.01-246
- Va. Code 8.01-229
- Va. Code 6.2-302
- Va. Code 38.2-3445.01
- SCC Bureau of Insurance: Balance Billing Protection
- Virginia OAG: File a complaint
- VDH Office of Licensure and Certification: File a complaint
- Cover Virginia