Active 2026 legislation is currently moving through the Michigan legislature that could significantly restrict how medical debt judgments are enforced. Until that legislation passes, current Michigan law does not ban wage garnishment; collectors with a court judgment can legally take up to 25% of your disposable earnings. The statute of limitations for a collector to … Read more
Louisiana’s Undue Medical Debt program has forgiven large pools of medical debt, but you must manually verify with your hospital if your account was included. For debts that are not forgiven, the state enforces a strict 3-year “prescription” period (statute of limitations), meaning older debts may already be time-barred. Louisiana does not ban wage garnishment; … Read more
As of July 1, 2024, a new Connecticut law strictly prohibits healthcare providers and collection agencies from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus. Connecticut does not ban wage garnishment for medical debt; collectors who secure a court judgment can still garnish up to 25% of your disposable earnings. The statute of limitations for collectors to … Read more
Collectors have exactly 4 years to file a lawsuit against you for unpaid medical bills under Texas law. Making even a small partial payment on an old bill can instantly restart this four-year clock. Texas strictly forbids wage garnishment for medical debt, meaning your paycheck is legally protected even if a collector wins a court … Read more
The Pennsylvania medical debt statute of limitations is 4 years under 42 Pa. C.S. section 5525. Pennsylvania strictly prohibits wage garnishment for medical debt, meaning your paycheck is legally protected even if a collector wins a lawsuit against you. While your wages are safe, a court judgment still allows debt collectors to levy your bank … Read more
The North Dakota medical debt statute of limitations is 6 years under NDCC section 28-01-16. This 6-year window gives debt collectors significant time to pursue lawsuits, which is especially relevant given the high per-capita healthcare costs in the state. North Dakota does not have specialized state-level medical debt protections, meaning residents rely entirely on the … Read more
The New Jersey medical debt statute of limitations is 6 years under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1. This 6-year clock generally starts on the date of your last payment or the date the bill first became delinquent. New Jersey hospitals are legally required to screen patients for charity care eligibility before sending accounts to collections. If they skip … Read more
A medical debt collector cannot place a lien on your house without first winning a court lawsuit and obtaining a formal judgment. Losing a home to medical debt foreclosure is exceptionally rare due to high legal costs, PR risks for hospitals, and state homestead protections. Most states offer “Homestead Exemptions” that shield a specific amount … Read more
The Maine medical debt statute of limitations is six years, which defines the exact legal window a collection agency has to file a lawsuit against you. Maine lawmakers are currently reviewing 2026 legislation that proposes lowering the wage garnishment cap to 5 percent and protecting lower-income residents entirely. Making even a small partial payment on … Read more
The Connecticut medical debt statute of limitations is 6 years, giving collectors a significant window to file a lawsuit for unpaid balances. Recent Connecticut legislation banned medical debt from being reported to credit bureaus, removing a major leverage point for collection agencies. Making even a small partial payment on an old hospital bill can completely … Read more