Medical debt laws in New Jersey
In New Jersey, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 6 years (N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-1 (6 years for contractual claims); Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act, P.L. 2024, c. 48 (codified at N.J.S.A. 56:11-56 et seq.)). New Jersey's general 6-year period for contractual claims (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1) covers written contracts, oral contracts, open/credit-card accounts, and medical bills alike — there is no separate medical-debt limitations statute (sales of goods get 4 years under N.J.S.A. 12A:2-725, but medical services are not goods). 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 New Jersey common law a voluntary partial payment on the debt restarts the 6-year clock, and an acknowledgment or new promise revives the claim only if contained in a writing signed by the debtor (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-24).
New Jersey protections for medical debt
- Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act (P.L. 2024, c. 48; N.J.S.A. 56:11-56 et seq. (signed July 22, 2024)) — Bans medical creditors and collectors from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus (for services on/after July 22, 2024, and bans reporting of any paid medical debt or medical debt under $500); caps interest on medical debt at 3% per year including on judgments; bars wage garnishment against patients earning under 600% of the federal poverty level; requires a 120-day wait after the first bill and an offer of a reasonable payment plan before collection actions; debts collected in violation are void and unenforceable.
- 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 New Jersey sets for collectors
New Jersey relies primarily on the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which applies in every state and covers third-party collectors and debt buyers.
New Jersey does not issue a collection-agency license, but collection agencies operating in the state must file a $5,000 surety bond under N.J.S.A. 45:18-1 (bond filed with the state; no general licensing regulator).
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 New Jersey.
- 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 New Jersey
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (Office of the Attorney General), Office of Consumer Protection 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 New Jersey?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in New Jersey is 6 years (N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-1 (6 years for contractual claims); Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act, P.L. 2024, c. 48 (codified at N.J.S.A. 56:11-56 et seq.)). New Jersey's general 6-year period for contractual claims (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1) covers written contracts, oral contracts, open/credit-card accounts, and medical bills alike — there is no separate medical-debt limitations statute (sales of goods get 4 years under N.J.S.A. 12A:2-725, but medical services are not goods). 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 New Jersey?
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 New Jersey?
Yes — under New Jersey common law a voluntary partial payment on the debt restarts the 6-year clock, and an acknowledgment or new promise revives the claim only if contained in a writing signed by the debtor (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-24).
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 New Jersey 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. New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
File with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (Office of the Attorney General), Office of Consumer Protection (https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp) 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 New Jersey
- 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 Oregon
- Medical debt laws in Utah
- Medical debt laws in Alabama
- Medical debt laws in Delaware
- Medical debt laws in Iowa
- Medical debt laws in Michigan
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.