Medical debt laws in North Dakota
In North Dakota, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 6 years (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1)). N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1) applies one uniform 6-year period to any action 'upon a contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied,' so medical bills — like written contracts, oral contracts, and open accounts — are 6 years; North Dakota has no medical-debt-specific limitations statute (though under § 13-01-14.1 a medical account does not even become delinquent until 90 days after the billed services are received). 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 — payment of principal or interest restarts the 6-year period, while an acknowledgment or new promise extends it only if contained in a writing signed by the debtor (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-36, which expressly preserves 'the effect of any payment of principal or interest').
North Dakota protections for medical debt
- Medical account delinquency delay and interest cap (N.D.C.C. § 13-01-14.1) — An account for medical services does not become delinquent until 90 days after receipt of the billed services (45 days for licensed nursing or basic care facilities), and late-payment/finance charges on medical debt are capped at 1% per month — for hospitals, no more than $25 per month — notwithstanding any higher rate agreed to.
- 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 North Dakota sets for collectors
Beyond the federal FDCPA, North Dakota has its own collection statute — the North Dakota Collection Agencies chapter (N.D.C.C. ch. 13-05 (licensing, § 13-05-02; prohibited acts and practices, § 13-05-06.3)). Requires collection agencies collecting from North Dakota debtors to be licensed and bonded, and prohibits unfair and abusive collection acts and practices, with administration by the Department of Financial Institutions.
Yes — anyone engaging in debt collection against a debtor residing in North Dakota must hold a collection agency license from the North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions (N.D.C.C. § 13-05-02), subject to the exemptions in § 13-05-02.3.
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 North Dakota.
- 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 North Dakota
North Dakota Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust 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 North Dakota?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in North Dakota is 6 years (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1)). N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1) applies one uniform 6-year period to any action 'upon a contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied,' so medical bills — like written contracts, oral contracts, and open accounts — are 6 years; North Dakota has no medical-debt-specific limitations statute (though under § 13-01-14.1 a medical account does not even become delinquent until 90 days after the billed services are received). 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 North Dakota?
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 North Dakota?
Yes — payment of principal or interest restarts the 6-year period, while an acknowledgment or new promise extends it only if contained in a writing signed by the debtor (N.D.C.C. § 28-01-36, which expressly preserves 'the effect of any payment of principal or interest').
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 North Dakota 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. North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
File with the North Dakota Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division (https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-complaints/) 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 North Dakota
- 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 South Dakota
- Medical debt laws in West Virginia
- Medical debt laws in California
- Medical debt laws in Idaho
- Medical debt laws in Maine
- Medical debt laws in Montana
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.