Medical debt laws in Arizona
In Arizona, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 3 years (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-548(A)(1)-(2) (6 years, written contracts and credit card debt); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-543 (3 years, oral contracts and open accounts); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-508 (revival of barred debt only by signed writing)). Arizona has no medical-debt-specific limitations statute. A medical bill not founded on a signed writing is an open account/oral obligation under A.R.S. § 12-543 (3 years) — the shortest defensible period — but where the patient signed an admission or financial-responsibility agreement (typical at hospitals) providers invoke the 6-year written-contract period of A.R.S. § 12-548(A)(1), so consumers should not assume a hospital bill is time-barred before 6 years. Note on open accounts: traditional open accounts are 3 years under § 12-543(2), but credit-card accounts specifically are 6 years under § 12-548(A)(2) (2011 amendment) — the 6 shown reflects credit-card-style accounts. That clock decides whether a collector can win a lawsuit against you — which changes what you should do next, so check the dates on the bill before you do anything else.
| Written contracts | 6 years |
| Oral agreements | 3 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 6 years |
| Medical debt | 3 years |
What the time limit actually means
The statute of limitations does not erase a debt — it limits how long a collector can successfully sue over it. A time-barred debt can still be requested, reported (within credit-reporting time limits), and settled. But if a collector sues after the period has run and you raise the statute of limitations as a defense, the case should be dismissed. The defense is not automatic: you must respond to the lawsuit to use it.
Careful: Before the period expires, Arizona case law treats a voluntary partial payment as an acknowledgment that restarts the clock; once the debt is time-barred, A.R.S. § 12-508 allows revival only through an acknowledgment in writing signed by the debtor.
Arizona protections for medical debt
- Predatory Debt Collection Act (Proposition 209, approved Nov. 2022, effective Dec. 5, 2022) (Amending A.R.S. § 44-1201 (interest), § 12-1598.10 (garnishment), § 33-1101 et seq. and § 33-1123 et seq. (exemptions)) — Caps interest on medical debt at 3% per year, cuts wage garnishment on medical-debt judgments to 10% of disposable earnings, and raises exemptions (about $437,600 homestead in 2026, $15,000 vehicle, $5,000 bank account, all inflation-adjusted); applies prospectively to debts incurred after Dec. 5, 2022.
- Charity care is federal law. Nonprofit hospitals must maintain a written Financial Assistance Policy and publicize it (IRS §501(r)). If your bill is from a nonprofit hospital, ask for the FAP application before paying anything. How to apply →
- Surprise out-of-network bills. The federal No Surprises Act bans most out-of-network balance billing for emergency care and for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. When a bill is illegal →
- Credit reporting. The national bureaus no longer report paid medical collections, medical collections under $500, or those less than a year old.
Rules Arizona sets for collectors
Beyond the federal FDCPA, Arizona has its own collection statute — the Arizona collection agency statute (no comprehensive mini-FDCPA) (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 32-1001 et seq.; see also Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 44-1521 et seq. (Consumer Fraud Act)). Arizona regulates collectors through its collection-agency licensing chapter (A.R.S. Title 32, ch. 9) and the general Consumer Fraud Act rather than a standalone state FDCPA; the federal FDCPA supplies most conduct rules.
Yes — it is unlawful to operate a collection agency in Arizona without a license under A.R.S. § 32-1021 (with surety bond), issued through NMLS by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI).
Under the FDCPA, within five days of first contacting you a collector must send a written validation notice (15 U.S.C. §1692g). If you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of that notice, the collector must stop collection activity until it mails you verification. There is no legal deadline for the collector to respond — but until it does, it cannot lawfully keep collecting.
If a collector is calling: the first 24 hours
- Do not confirm the debt is yours on the phone, and do not make a payment yet — get everything in writing first.
- Ask for the collector’s company name, mailing address, and the amount claimed. Write down the date and time.
- Check the dates: if the last activity on the bill is older than 3 years, the debt may be time-barred in Arizona.
- Send a written validation request within 30 days. Generate the letter free →
- If the bill is from a hospital, request an itemized bill and ask about financial assistance — billing errors are common and assistance is often retroactive.
Where to complain in Arizona
Arizona Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection (Consumer Information and Complaints Unit) handles collection complaints at the state level. Federally, file with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — complaints become part of the public record collectors are judged on.
Common questions
How long can a debt collector pursue medical debt in Arizona?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in Arizona is 3 years (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-548(A)(1)-(2) (6 years, written contracts and credit card debt); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-543 (3 years, oral contracts and open accounts); Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-508 (revival of barred debt only by signed writing)). Arizona has no medical-debt-specific limitations statute. A medical bill not founded on a signed writing is an open account/oral obligation under A.R.S. § 12-543 (3 years) — the shortest defensible period — but where the patient signed an admission or financial-responsibility agreement (typical at hospitals) providers invoke the 6-year written-contract period of A.R.S. § 12-548(A)(1), so consumers should not assume a hospital bill is time-barred before 6 years. Note on open accounts: traditional open accounts are 3 years under § 12-543(2), but credit-card accounts specifically are 6 years under § 12-548(A)(2) (2011 amendment) — the 6 shown reflects credit-card-style accounts. After that period, a lawsuit to collect can be challenged as time-barred, though collectors may still ask you to pay voluntarily.
Can I be sued for a medical bill after 3 years in Arizona?
A collector can still file a lawsuit after the limitations period, but the statute of limitations is a defense: if you raise it, a time-barred case should be dismissed. It is not automatic — you must respond to the lawsuit and assert it. Never ignore a court summons.
Does making a small payment restart the clock in Arizona?
Before the period expires, Arizona case law treats a voluntary partial payment as an acknowledgment that restarts the clock; once the debt is time-barred, A.R.S. § 12-508 allows revival only through an acknowledgment in writing signed by the debtor.
Does unpaid medical debt go on my credit report?
Since 2023, the three national credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) do not report paid medical collections, medical collections under $500, or medical collections less than a year old. Larger, older unpaid medical collections can still appear.
Do hospitals in Arizona have to offer financial assistance?
Every nonprofit hospital in the United States is required by federal law (IRS Section 501(r)) to have a written Financial Assistance Policy and to tell patients about it. Arizona adds its own protections on top — see the list on this page.
How do I dispute a medical bill that went to collections?
Send the collector a written debt validation request. Under the federal FDCPA (15 U.S.C. §1692g), if you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of their first notice, the collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification of the debt. You can generate that letter free on this site — no account needed.
Where do I complain about a debt collector in Arizona?
File with the Arizona Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection (Consumer Information and Complaints Unit) (https://www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer) and with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Complaints are free and create a record.
Keep reading
- Statute of limitations on all debt in Arizona
- Free debt validation letter generator — no account needed
- Look up a debt collector — CFPB complaint records for the biggest agencies
- Charity care: hospital financial assistance, applied
- Medical debt laws in Georgia
- Medical debt laws in Kentucky
- Medical debt laws in Mississippi
- Medical debt laws in New Mexico
- Medical debt laws in Pennsylvania
- Medical debt laws in Vermont
Legal information, not legal advice. Statutes change and courts interpret them — for advice on your situation, talk to a lawyer or your state’s legal aid office. Last reviewed AUG 2026.