Debt & Bankruptcy

Medical Debt

Medical debt is a top reason people are contacted by debt collectors. Unlike other types of debt, medical debt is often unpredictable. People do not plan to get sick or hurt. NCLC works to reduce the burden of medical debt by advocating for laws that eliminate abusive debt collection, stop credit reporting of medical debt, and prevent medical debt at the outset.

Model Medical Debt Protection Act

March 6, 2024

The Model Medical Debt Protection Act, now in its third edition, is a tool for advocates who are working to protect consumers who are burdened with medical debt in their states. The model act provides suggested language to improve state health care financial assistance laws, and to strengthen medical debt collection consumer protections.

Read More about: Model Medical Debt Protection Act
September 7, 2023
April 27, 2023

Recent

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Alabama Congressman Joins Debt Collectors in Support of Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt

November 19, 2024

The Hill: ‘Positive’ medical debt credit reporting is a Trojan horse

November 6, 2024

Nursing Homes Aggressively Pursue Family Members and Friends When Residents’ Bills Go Unpaid, Often Violating the Law

October 31, 2024

Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices Put Residents’ Family and Friends At Risk

October 30, 2024

The Healthy Project Podcast: Breaking Down Medical Debt – How it Impacts Under-Resourced Communities & Solutions for Change

October 15, 2024

White House Efforts Will Reduce Medical Debt, Protect Consumers from Harmful Debt Collection

October 1, 2024

KFF Health News: California Governor Signs Law Banning Medical Debt From Credit Reports

September 25, 2024

NBC News: ‘Making peoples’ lives hell’: When he couldn’t pay for cancer treatment, the hospital sued

September 14, 2024

Comments on Proposed Medicaid and Medicare Program Rules Amending Definition of Custody for Purposes of Medicare Exclusion (CMS-1809-P)

September 9, 2024

Comments & Letters

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Comments on Proposed Medicaid and Medicare Program Rules Amending Definition of Custody for Purposes of Medicare Exclusion (CMS-1809-P)

September 9, 2024

NCLC Comments Supporting CFPB Proposal to Ban Medical Debt From Credit Reports

August 12, 2024

NCLC Petition for Rulemaking under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to Protect Renters

August 12, 2024

Coalition Comments to DOJ, FTC, HHS on Consolidation in Health Care Markets

June 4, 2024

Comments on Healthcare Consolidation RFI to DOJ FTC HHS

May 30, 2024

Healthcare and Consumer Groups Comments on Facility Fee Junk Fees

February 7, 2024

Letter from 60 Groups: Do Not Delay FCRA Rulemaking

December 4, 2023

Comments to CFPB’s Outline of Proposals for FCRA Rulemaking

November 9, 2023

Comments in Response to CFPB, HHS, and Treasury Request for Information Regarding Medical Payment Products

September 11, 2023

Reports

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Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices Put Residents’ Family and Friends At Risk

October 30, 2024

Medical Debt Behind Bars: The Punishing Impact of Copays, Fees, and Other Carceral Medical Debt

September 6, 2024

An Ounce of Prevention: A Review of Hospital Financial Assistance Policies in the States

August 25, 2023

Health Care Plastic: The Risks of Medical Credit Cards

April 27, 2023

Don’t Add Further Insult to Injury: Medical Debt & Credit Reports

January 6, 2023

The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 9, 2022

Don’t Add Insult to Injury: Medical Debt & Credit Reports

November 4, 2019

Strong Medicine Needed: What the CFPB Should Do to Protect Consumers from Unfair Collection and Reporting of Medical Debt

September 20, 2014

Issue Briefs

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NCLER Tip Sheet: Nursing Home Debt Collection: Issues and Defense

July 31, 2024

Protecting Older Adults from Surprise Medical Bills

July 31, 2023

COVID-19 Medical Debt: First 100 Day Priorities for the Biden Administration

December 1, 2020

What States Can Do to Help Consumers: Medical Debt

January 30, 2020

Fact Sheet: Medical Debt Collection

March 27, 2019

Testimony

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Testimony in Support of HB 673 (Maryland)

February 14, 2024

Testimony in Support of Delaware Medical Debt Protection Act

May 18, 2023

Chi Chi Wu’s Testimony in Support of Excluding Medical Debt Information from Consumer Reports (Colorado)

February 22, 2023

Testimony in Support of House Bill 3076

April 29, 2019

Press Releases & News

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Alabama Congressman Joins Debt Collectors in Support of Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt

November 19, 2024

The Hill: ‘Positive’ medical debt credit reporting is a Trojan horse

November 6, 2024

Nursing Homes Aggressively Pursue Family Members and Friends When Residents’ Bills Go Unpaid, Often Violating the Law

October 31, 2024

The Healthy Project Podcast: Breaking Down Medical Debt – How it Impacts Under-Resourced Communities & Solutions for Change

October 15, 2024

White House Efforts Will Reduce Medical Debt, Protect Consumers from Harmful Debt Collection

October 1, 2024

KFF Health News: California Governor Signs Law Banning Medical Debt From Credit Reports

September 25, 2024

NBC News: ‘Making peoples’ lives hell’: When he couldn’t pay for cancer treatment, the hospital sued

September 14, 2024

NPR: Patient Underwent One Surgery but Was Billed for Two. Even After Being Sued, She Refused To Pay.

August 21, 2024

CBS News: What to know about financial risks of increasingly popular medical credit cards (Video)

August 14, 2024

From the NCLC Digital Library

Collection Actions

NCLC’s treatise detailing consumer defenses to debt buyer and creditor collection lawsuits on credit card, medical, criminal justice, and other consumer debts.

Read Chapter One