What Happens If I Don't Pay My Medical Bills?
Quick summary Detail Value Grace period (typical) 30–60 days before first collection action Collections referral Typically 90–180 days past due Credit reporting (post-2023 rules) Paid medical debt not reported; unpaid under $500 not reported; unpaid $500+ reported only after 365 days Source verified May 2026 Medical bills are different from other debts Medical bills in the US have special protections that don’t apply to most other debts: No Surprises Act (federal): Protects against many forms of surprise out-of-network billing State medical debt protections: Vary widely; some states cap interest, regulate collection practices, or prohibit certain reporting Credit bureau medical debt rules (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion): Per major credit bureau policy changes: Paid medical collections are not reported Unpaid medical collections under $500 are not reported Unpaid medical collections of $500 or more are only reported after the debt has been delinquent for at least one year (vs. ~6 months for other consumer debt) Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) medical debt guidance — consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/medical-bills-on-your-credit-report; No Surprises Act — cms.gov/nosurprises ...