Does medical debt affect my credit score?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Only past certain lines - per the CFPB (guidance reviewed July 2025), unpaid medical debt more than 365 days delinquent from the date of service and over $500 can appear on your credit reports; paid medical collections come off entirely. The year-long runway exists so insurance disputes and charity-care applications can finish first. Rules here have been shifting, so keep the durable habits: check your reports (free copies from each bureau annually at annualcreditreport.com), dispute any collection that is paid, under $500, or inside the one-year window, and never let a bill go delinquent by silence - a payment plan or assistance application pauses the damage. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you figure out where a specific bill stands.
What to do
- Know the two gates: over 365 days delinquent AND over $500.
- Paid collections come off: check that yours did.
- Pull free reports yearly: dispute wrong medical entries.
- Respond, never ignore: plans and assistance stop the clock better than silence.
Related questions
- Can a hospital send my bill to collections?
- How do I dispute a medical bill?
- What is hospital charity care?
- How do I get an itemized medical bill?