Medical debt laws in Ohio
In Ohio, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 6 years (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2305.06 (written contracts, 6 years); 2305.07(A) (unwritten contracts, 4 years); 2305.07(C) (consumer transactions, 6 years)). A medical bill is a 'consumer transaction incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes,' so the 6-year period of Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(C) (added by S.B. 13, eff. June 16, 2021) applies 'whether or not reduced to writing or signed,' accruing 30 days after the last charge or payment; a signed written agreement would likewise be 6 years under § 2305.06, so 6 years is the defensible number — the 4-year unwritten-contract period of § 2305.07(A) is displaced for consumer debts. 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 | 4 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 on a demand founded on a contract, a written acknowledgment, or a signed promise to pay restarts the limitations period from that date (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.08), and for consumer transactions the cause of action itself re-accrues 30 days after the last charge or payment (§ 2305.07(C)).
Ohio protections for medical debt
- Hospital price transparency law (billing transparency, not a collection shield) (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3727.31–3727.40 (effective April 3, 2025)) — Requires Ohio hospitals to publish standard-charges lists and shoppable-services price estimator tools and report compliance to the Director of Health; enforcement is through corrective action plans and administrative penalties only — as written it does not bar noncompliant hospitals from collecting debt or credit reporting, and Ohio otherwise has no medical-debt-specific collection or credit-reporting protections.
- 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 Ohio sets for collectors
Ohio relies primarily on the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which applies in every state and covers third-party collectors and debt buyers.
No — Ohio does not license or register collection agencies at the state level; oversight comes from the federal FDCPA and the Ohio Attorney General's enforcement of the Consumer Sales Practices Act.
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 Ohio.
- 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 Ohio
Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Section 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 Ohio?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in Ohio is 6 years (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2305.06 (written contracts, 6 years); 2305.07(A) (unwritten contracts, 4 years); 2305.07(C) (consumer transactions, 6 years)). A medical bill is a 'consumer transaction incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes,' so the 6-year period of Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07(C) (added by S.B. 13, eff. June 16, 2021) applies 'whether or not reduced to writing or signed,' accruing 30 days after the last charge or payment; a signed written agreement would likewise be 6 years under § 2305.06, so 6 years is the defensible number — the 4-year unwritten-contract period of § 2305.07(A) is displaced for consumer debts. 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 Ohio?
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 Ohio?
Yes — payment on a demand founded on a contract, a written acknowledgment, or a signed promise to pay restarts the limitations period from that date (Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.08), and for consumer transactions the cause of action itself re-accrues 30 days after the last charge or payment (§ 2305.07(C)).
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 Ohio 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. Ohio 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 Ohio?
File with the Ohio Attorney General Consumer Protection Section (https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-a-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 Ohio
- 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 Tennessee
- Medical debt laws in Wisconsin
- Medical debt laws in Colorado
- Medical debt laws in Illinois
- Medical debt laws in Maryland
- Medical debt laws in Nebraska
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.