Medical debt laws in Indiana
In Indiana, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 6 years (Ind. Code §§ 34-11-2-7, 34-11-2-9). Unambiguous in outcome: medical bills are 'accounts' or unwritten contracts under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7 (6 years), and even if a signed payment agreement makes them written contracts for the payment of money, Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 also gives 6 years (contracts executed after Aug. 31, 1982). Only written contracts NOT for the payment of money get 10 years (§ 34-11-2-11), which does not fit a medical bill. 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 | 6 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 6 years |
| Medical debt | 6 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: Yes - under Ind. Code ch. 34-11-9 a signed written acknowledgment or new promise restarts the period, and a voluntary partial payment likewise operates as an acknowledgment restarting the clock, though a payment binds only the payer, not co-debtors (Ind. Code § 34-11-9-3).
Indiana protections for medical debt
- Hospital price-transparency collection bar (SB 225, 2026) (Ind. P.L. 124-2026 (S.B. 225, eff. July 1, 2026)) — Prohibits a hospital, debt collector, or third party from pursuing medical-debt collection while the hospital is out of compliance with Indiana price-transparency statutes (determined semiannually by the Department of Health), lets the Attorney General suspend a noncompliant hospital's collection authority, and gives patients an affirmative defense to collection suits brought during noncompliance.
- Good-faith estimate / surprise-billing law (HEA 1004, 2020) (Ind. H.E.A. 1004 (2020)) — Requires providers to give good-faith cost estimates before non-emergency services on request and restricts out-of-network 'surprise' balance billing at in-network facilities.
- 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 Indiana sets for collectors
Beyond the federal FDCPA, Indiana has its own collection statute — the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act (applied to debt collection) and Collection Agency licensing act (Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5; Ind. Code § 25-11-1). Indiana has no comprehensive mini-FDCPA; abusive or deceptive collection conduct is pursued under the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act (Ind. Code § 24-5-0.5), and third-party collection agencies are separately regulated and licensed under Ind. Code § 25-11-1, with rules enforced by the Secretary of State.
Yes - third-party collection agencies must be licensed by the Indiana Secretary of State (Securities Division) under Ind. Code § 25-11-1.
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 6 years, the debt may be time-barred in Indiana.
- 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 Indiana
Indiana Attorney General Consumer Protection Division 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 Indiana?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in Indiana is 6 years (Ind. Code §§ 34-11-2-7, 34-11-2-9). Unambiguous in outcome: medical bills are 'accounts' or unwritten contracts under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7 (6 years), and even if a signed payment agreement makes them written contracts for the payment of money, Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 also gives 6 years (contracts executed after Aug. 31, 1982). Only written contracts NOT for the payment of money get 10 years (§ 34-11-2-11), which does not fit a medical bill. 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 6 years in Indiana?
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 Indiana?
Yes - under Ind. Code ch. 34-11-9 a signed written acknowledgment or new promise restarts the period, and a voluntary partial payment likewise operates as an acknowledgment restarting the clock, though a payment binds only the payer, not co-debtors (Ind. Code § 34-11-9-3).
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 Indiana 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. Indiana 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 Indiana?
File with the Indiana Attorney General Consumer Protection Division (https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division/) 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 Indiana
- 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 Massachusetts
- Medical debt laws in Nevada
- Medical debt laws in Ohio
- Medical debt laws in Tennessee
- Medical debt laws in Wisconsin
- Medical debt laws in Colorado
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.