Medical Debt Statute of Limitations by State

By Waleed Akram · Last reviewed: October 22, 2026 · General information only — see our disclaimer

The statute of limitations (SOL) is the legal deadline for filing a lawsuit over a debt. Once it expires, the debt becomes time-barred: a collector can still ask you to pay, but if it sues and you raise the expired limitations period as a defense, the case should be dismissed. Two things patients get wrong cost them this defense: the court will not apply it for you (you must raise it in your Answer), and certain actions — a partial payment, a written promise to pay — can restart the clock in many states.

General information, not legal advice. Limitations periods are amended and classified differently (written contract, oral contract, or a medical-debt-specific rule). Verify your state’s current statute before relying on a date — your court or legal aid can confirm it.

How medical debt is classified

Most states have no separate “medical debt” limitations period: a hospital bill is treated as a written contract (you signed admission/financial forms) or, when nothing was signed, an oral/open account claim with a shorter period. A few states now have medical-debt-specific shorter periods — New York (3 years for medical debts), Florida (3 years for certain hospital debts referred to collection under its 2024 law), Virginia and the District of Columbia (3 years) among them.

State table (commonly applicable periods for medical bills)

State	Period	Usually classified as
New York	3 years	Medical-debt-specific (CPLR 213-d)
Florida	5 years written contract · 3 years for hospital debts under the 2024 collection law	Written contract / medical-specific
California	4 years	Written contract
Texas	4 years	Debt / written contract
Virginia	3 years (medical services statute) · 5 years other written contracts	Medical-specific / written
District of Columbia	3 years	Contract
Pennsylvania	4 years	Written contract
Ohio	6 years	Written contract
Georgia	6 years	Written contract
New Jersey	6 years	Written contract
Illinois	5 years (many medical claims) · 10 years written contracts generally	Varies by claim type
North Carolina	3 years	Contract
Arizona	6 years written · 3 years oral	Written contract
Colorado	6 years (many medical claims via liquidated debt rules)	Varies
Washington	6 years	Written contract

This table covers the states patients ask about most and the entries with medical-specific rules. Every other state generally falls in the 3–6 year range under its contract rules. Because classification disputes are common (was there a signed writing?), treat any date as an estimate until a statute check confirms it.

When the clock starts

Usually from the date of service or the date the bill became due (first missed payment) — states differ, and plaintiffs and patients argue this point. Collect three dates for your account: date of service, date of the first bill showing the balance due, and date of your last payment. The limitations analysis runs from the earliest defensible one.

What can restart or pause the clock

A partial payment on an old debt — in many states this restarts the full period. This is why collectors push hard for “just $25 to show good faith” on ancient accounts.
A written acknowledgment or promise to pay — same effect in many states.
Tolling events — bankruptcy filings, military service, and being out of state can pause the clock in some states. If a collector is pressing you about a very old bill, do not pay or promise anything until the limitations position is checked.

Using the defense correctly

Compute the likely expiry from your dates, using the table and your state statute.
Raise “statute of limitations” as an affirmative defense in your Answer (template walkthrough) — even if you are unsure; an unraised defense can be waived.
File on time regardless (deadlines). The limitations defense is raised inside a timely Answer; it is not a reason to ignore the suit.
If a collector sues on a clearly time-barred debt, that can itself violate the FDCPA — a consumer attorney may take the case at no cost to you (when to hire a lawyer).

Frequently asked questions

How long can a collector sue you for medical debt? As long as your state’s statute of limitations allows — typically 3 to 6 years from the date of service or first missed payment, with a few states (like New York) setting a specific 3-year period for medical debt.

What’s the medical debt statute of limitations by state? See the table above for the states with medical-specific rules and the most-asked states. In states not listed, medical bills usually follow the written-contract period; confirm with your state statute or court self-help center before relying on a number.

What is the statute of limitations on medical debt in Florida? Generally 5 years for written contracts. Florida’s 2024 hospital legislation set a 3-year period for lawsuits on certain hospital debts after referral to collections — which period applies depends on the provider and how the debt arose, so verify before relying on either.

How long can medical debt stay in collections? Longer than it can be sued on. The limitations period governs lawsuits, not collection attempts or credit reporting (which follow their own rules — unpaid medical collections can be reported after a 365-day wait under current bureau policy). A time-barred debt can still be collected voluntarily — which is exactly why you should not restart its clock with a payment.

General information, not legal advice. Sources: NY CPLR 213-d; state contract limitations statutes as published; MoneyLion and CoveredUSA state tables cross-checked against official state sources where available. Verify your state’s current statute. Reviewed 2026-10-22.