Medical debt laws in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 6 years (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3)). Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3) gives a single 6-year period for 'actions on contracts not otherwise expressly provided for,' which Tennessee courts apply to written contracts, oral contracts, and open accounts alike — so an unpaid medical bill is 6 years however it is classified. 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 Tennessee case law a voluntary, unconditional partial payment or a written/clear acknowledgment of the debt implies a new promise to pay and restarts the full 6-year period.
Tennessee protections for medical debt
- Uninsured hospital charge cap (175% of cost) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-262) — Licensed healthcare facilities may not require an uninsured patient to pay more than 175% of the facility's cost for the services (based on its cost-to-charge ratio). Note: a proposed ban on medical-debt credit reporting (2025 HB 539/SB 402) died in committee and is NOT law.
- 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 Tennessee sets for collectors
Beyond the federal FDCPA, Tennessee has its own collection statute — the Tennessee Collection Service Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-20-101 et seq.). Regulates collection agencies through the Tennessee Collection Service Board (licensing, conduct standards, discipline); the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-101 et seq.) separately prohibits unfair or deceptive collection practices.
Yes — collection services must be licensed by the Tennessee Collection Service Board (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) under Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 62-20-105 to -109.
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 Tennessee.
- 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 Tennessee
Tennessee Attorney General – Division of Consumer Affairs 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 Tennessee?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in Tennessee is 6 years (Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3)). Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109(a)(3) gives a single 6-year period for 'actions on contracts not otherwise expressly provided for,' which Tennessee courts apply to written contracts, oral contracts, and open accounts alike — so an unpaid medical bill is 6 years however it is classified. 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 Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
Yes — under Tennessee case law a voluntary, unconditional partial payment or a written/clear acknowledgment of the debt implies a new promise to pay and restarts the full 6-year period.
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 Tennessee 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. Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
File with the Tennessee Attorney General – Division of Consumer Affairs (https://www.tn.gov/attorneygeneral/working-for-tennessee/consumer/file-a-complaint.html) 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 Tennessee
- 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 Wisconsin
- Medical debt laws in Colorado
- Medical debt laws in Illinois
- Medical debt laws in Maryland
- Medical debt laws in Nebraska
- Medical debt laws in North Dakota
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.