New York provides the most comprehensive medical debt shield in the country, explicitly banning wage garnishment, property liens, and credit reporting for medical bills. While a collector can still sue you within the state’s 6-year legal window, winning a judgment does not grant them the right to touch your paycheck or your primary residence. Even … Read more
Colorado’s HB26-1267 legislation establishes a complete wage garnishment ban for medical debt, meaning collectors cannot legally take your paycheck even if they win a court judgment. Payment plans for medical bills in the state are now legally capped at 4% of a patient’s weekly income, stopping aggressive demands for unaffordable monthly installments. Under new regulations, … 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
North Carolina enforces a strict three-year legal window for medical debt collection lawsuits, tying it for one of the shortest timeframes in the country. The state completely bans wage garnishment for medical debt, meaning collectors cannot touch your paycheck even if they win a court judgment. A massive $6.5 billion debt relief program is actively … Read more
Delaware offers a powerful dual shield: a short 3-year window for lawsuits and an absolute ban on medical debt wage garnishment. Even if a collector secures a court judgment within the 3-year window, they cannot legally touch your paycheck. The biggest risk is accidentally restarting the 3-year clock by making a small “good faith” payment … Read more
The Colorado medical debt statute of limitations is 6 years (under CRS § 13-80-101). Once this 6-year window expires, a debt collector can no longer successfully sue you in court for the unpaid medical bill. However, Colorado residents have massive new protections coming: HB26-1267 bans wage garnishment entirely and limits payment plans to 4% of … Read more