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Medical debt laws in Maryland

MARYLAND · STATUTE-SOURCED · MAINTAINED — LAST REVIEWED AUG 2026 · FREE, NO ACCOUNT

In Maryland, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 3 years (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 (3 years, general); § 5-102 (12 years, specialties/contracts under seal); § 5-1202 (no revival of expired consumer debt)). Maryland's general 3-year period for civil actions (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) covers written contracts, oral contracts, open accounts, and medical bills alike, so medical debt is 3 years with no classification ambiguity; the only longer period is 12 years for 'specialties' such as contracts under seal and promissory notes under seal (§ 5-102), which ordinary medical bills are not. 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.

Maryland — statute of limitations on debt
Written contracts3 years
Oral agreements3 years
Open accounts (credit cards)3 years
Medical debt3 years
SOURCE: Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 (3 years, general); § 5-102 (12 years, specialties/contracts under seal); § 5-1202 (no revival of expired consumer debt)

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 3 years run, an acknowledgment or payment can restart the clock under Maryland common law, but once the limitations period on a consumer debt has expired, no payment, affirmation (written or oral), or other activity can revive or extend it (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-1202, enacted 2016).

Maryland protections for medical debt

  • Medical Debt Protection Act (hospital collections) (2021 Md. Laws ch. 770; Md. Code, Health-Gen. § 19-214.2 (with financial assistance rules at § 19-214.1)) — Hospitals must offer income-based installment plans (monthly payments capped at 5% of the patient's adjusted gross monthly income), may not sue before implementing a compliant payment-plan policy, may not garnish wages of patients eligible for free or reduced-cost care, and may not charge prepayment penalties.
  • Medical debt credit-reporting ban (HB 1020) (2025 Md. Laws (HB 1020), effective October 1, 2025) — Medical debt is excluded from Maryland consumer credit reports: providers and their collectors may not furnish medical debt to consumer reporting agencies, agencies may not maintain or report it, and lenders may not consider it in credit decisions (subject to a pending federal FCRA-preemption dispute).
  • Home lien ban and hospital collection limits (HB 428 / HB 268) (2025 Md. Laws (HB 428 and HB 268), effective October 1, 2025) — Debt collectors may not use a money judgment to place a lien on a consumer's primary residence for medical debt; hospitals may not pursue debts under $500, must wait at least 180 days after the initial bill before suing, and must pause collection during the 240-day financial-assistance application window.
  • 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 Maryland sets for collectors

Beyond the federal FDCPA, Maryland has its own collection statute — the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act (MCDCA) (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq.). The MCDCA bars collectors from threats, abuse, disclosure of debts to third parties, and claiming, attempting, or threatening to enforce a right that does not exist — including suing or threatening suit on time-barred debt; violations are also per se violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act (Com. Law § 13-301) and support private damages actions.

Yes — a person doing business as a collection agency in Maryland (including debt buyers) must be licensed by the State Collection Agency Licensing Board within the Office of Financial Regulation under the Maryland Collection Agency Licensing Act, Md. Code, Bus. Reg. § 7-301.

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

  1. Do not confirm the debt is yours on the phone, and do not make a payment yet — get everything in writing first.
  2. Ask for the collector’s company name, mailing address, and the amount claimed. Write down the date and time.
  3. Check the dates: if the last activity on the bill is older than 3 years, the debt may be time-barred in Maryland.
  4. Send a written validation request within 30 days. Generate the letter free →
  5. 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 Maryland

Maryland 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 Maryland?

The statute of limitations on medical debt in Maryland is 3 years (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 (3 years, general); § 5-102 (12 years, specialties/contracts under seal); § 5-1202 (no revival of expired consumer debt)). Maryland's general 3-year period for civil actions (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101) covers written contracts, oral contracts, open accounts, and medical bills alike, so medical debt is 3 years with no classification ambiguity; the only longer period is 12 years for 'specialties' such as contracts under seal and promissory notes under seal (§ 5-102), which ordinary medical bills are not. 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 Maryland?

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 Maryland?

Before the 3 years run, an acknowledgment or payment can restart the clock under Maryland common law, but once the limitations period on a consumer debt has expired, no payment, affirmation (written or oral), or other activity can revive or extend it (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-1202, enacted 2016).

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 Maryland 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. Maryland 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 Maryland?

File with the Maryland Attorney General Consumer Protection Division (https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/CPD/Complaint.aspx) and with the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Complaints are free and create a record.

Keep reading

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.

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