How to Remove Medical Bills from Your Credit Report?
Medical debt is one of the most common types of debt in the U.S., affecting millions of Americans every year. Even if you’ve tried to resolve your bills, they can still show up on your credit report and hurt your credit score. But the good news is — you may be able to remove medical bills from your credit report, especially with new rules that went into effect in recent years.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about medical collections, your rights, and the steps to take in 2025 to clean up your credit report.
Do Medical Bills Affect Your Credit Score?
Yes — but only if they go unpaid long enough to be sent to collections. If you fail to pay a hospital or doctor’s office, they may eventually turn your debt over to a collections agency. That collection account can be reported to the major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), where it can negatively impact your credit score.
However, there have been major changes to how medical debt is handled on credit reports in the last few years — and more protections are coming in 2025.
What Are the 2023–2025 Credit Reporting Changes for Medical Debt?
The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — have agreed to new rules about how medical debt appears on credit reports. As of 2023 and into 2025:
- Paid medical collections no longer appear on credit reports.
- Medical debt under $500 is not included in credit reports.
- One-year grace period: New medical bills must be in collections for at least one year before they can be reported.
This means many people can now dispute and remove older or smaller medical debts that are still hurting their credit — especially if the debt was paid or shouldn’t have been reported in the first place.
How to Check If You Have Medical Debt on Your Credit Report
Before taking steps to remove anything, you’ll need to check your credit report. Here's how:
- Go to AnnualCreditReport.com — it’s the official free source for your credit reports.
- Request reports from all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
- Look for any account labeled “Medical Collections” or anything from a debt collector related to healthcare.
Steps to Remove Medical Debt from Your Credit Report
1. Confirm the Debt Falls Under the New Rules
Ask yourself:
- Is the debt under $500? Then it should no longer appear.
- Has it been paid in full? If so, it should be removed.
- Is it less than 1 year old? If yes, it cannot be reported yet.
If your situation meets any of the above, you have a good reason to file a dispute.
2. Dispute the Debt with the Credit Bureaus
Each credit bureau has its own process for filing a dispute. You can do it online:
Include the following in your dispute:
- A brief explanation of why the medical bill should be removed
- Any supporting documents (e.g., proof of payment, insurance Explanation of Benefits)
- A copy of your credit report with the incorrect item highlighted
3. Contact the Medical Provider or Collection Agency
If the debt is legitimate but you've already paid it, or if it should have been covered by insurance, reach out directly to the provider or collector. Ask for:
- A letter confirming the debt was paid or settled
- A request to remove the collection from your credit file (a “pay for delete” agreement)
4. File a Complaint with the CFPB
If your dispute is ignored or denied unfairly, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). They can investigate and get responses on your behalf.
5. Follow Up and Monitor Your Credit
Disputes usually take 30–45 days to resolve. After that, check your credit again to confirm the medical debt has been removed.
Can You Pay to Remove Medical Debt?
Yes, but it must be done carefully. A common strategy is a “pay-for-delete” arrangement — where you offer to pay the debt in exchange for the collector removing it from your credit report. However, not all collection agencies will agree to this, and credit bureaus discourage the practice.
Still, it’s worth asking. Get any agreement in writing before making a payment.
What If the Medical Debt Is a Mistake?
Medical billing errors are common. You may have been billed:
- For a service your insurance already paid for
- For care you never received
- Twice for the same procedure
In such cases, contact your provider or insurer immediately to request correction. You can also send a certified letter to the collection agency to request validation of the debt.
Do Medical Bills Go Away After 7 Years?
Yes. Like most negative information, medical debts will fall off your credit report after 7 years from the date of delinquency. But that’s a long time to wait — and you don’t want it hurting your credit the entire time. If possible, take proactive steps to remove or resolve it sooner.
How Medical Debt Impacts Your Credit Score
Although newer scoring models like FICO 9 and VantageScore 4.0 reduce the impact of medical collections, many lenders still use older versions that penalize you heavily for them. This means that even small unpaid medical debts can lower your score and hurt your chances of qualifying for loans or better interest rates.
How to Rebuild Credit After Medical Debt
Once you’ve resolved your medical bills, it’s time to focus on credit repair:
- Make all future payments on time
- Keep credit card balances low
- Use a secured credit card or credit-builder loan if necessary
- Check your credit report regularly for updates
Summary: You Have the Power to Remove Medical Bills from Your Report
If medical debt is dragging down your credit score, don’t panic. Thanks to changes in credit reporting policies and your legal rights under federal law, you can often have these debts disputed, removed, or resolved.
Use this guide as your action plan. Whether it’s a $300 collection that shouldn’t be there or a $2,000 bill that was paid but not updated, you have the right to fight back — and clean up your financial future.
Need help? Reach out to nonprofit credit counselors, medical billing advocates, or the CFPB. You don’t have to do this alone.
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