Medical debt laws in Iowa
In Iowa, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 5 years (Iowa Code § 614.1(4), (5)). Medical bills are ordinarily unwritten/open-account obligations under Iowa Code § 614.1(4) (5 years); Iowa case law holds even credit-card balances are actions on oral rather than written contracts despite statements and terms-and-conditions, and an open account accrues from the last item (last charge or payment). If the patient signed an actual written payment contract, a collector could claim 10 years under § 614.1(5)(a) - so 5 years is the shortest defensible period, with that caveat. 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 | 10 years |
| Oral agreements | 5 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 5 years |
| Medical debt | 5 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: Generally no - Iowa Code § 614.11 revives a contract claim only by a signed written admission that the debt is unpaid or a like new written promise, so partial payment alone does not restart a stale claim, though a payment on an open account can reset accrual because such accounts accrue from the last item.
Protections that apply in Iowa
- 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 Iowa sets for collectors
Beyond the federal FDCPA, Iowa has its own collection statute — the Iowa Debt Collection Practices Act (part of the Iowa Consumer Credit Code) (Iowa Code §§ 537.7101-537.7103). Prohibits harassment, abuse, false or misleading representations, and unfair practices in collecting consumer debts, and - broader than the federal FDCPA - applies to original creditors and assignees collecting their own debts as well as third-party collectors; enforced by the Attorney General with private remedies under the ICCC.
No license required - Iowa does not license collection agencies, but debt collectors above an annually indexed volume threshold ($73,400 for 2026) must file a notification with the Iowa Attorney General and pay a $50 annual fee under the Iowa Consumer Credit Code.
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 5 years, the debt may be time-barred in Iowa.
- 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 Iowa
Iowa 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 Iowa?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in Iowa is 5 years (Iowa Code § 614.1(4), (5)). Medical bills are ordinarily unwritten/open-account obligations under Iowa Code § 614.1(4) (5 years); Iowa case law holds even credit-card balances are actions on oral rather than written contracts despite statements and terms-and-conditions, and an open account accrues from the last item (last charge or payment). If the patient signed an actual written payment contract, a collector could claim 10 years under § 614.1(5)(a) - so 5 years is the shortest defensible period, with that caveat. 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 5 years in Iowa?
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 Iowa?
Generally no - Iowa Code § 614.11 revives a contract claim only by a signed written admission that the debt is unpaid or a like new written promise, so partial payment alone does not restart a stale claim, though a payment on an open account can reset accrual because such accounts accrue from the last item.
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 Iowa 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. Ask the billing office for the Financial Assistance Policy application, in writing.
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 Iowa?
File with the Iowa Attorney General Consumer Protection Division (https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint) 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 Iowa
- 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 Michigan
- Medical debt laws in New Hampshire
- Medical debt laws in Oklahoma
- Medical debt laws in Texas
- Medical debt laws in Wyoming
- Medical debt laws in Connecticut
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.