Medical debt laws in Texas
In Texas, the statute of limitations on medical debt is 4 years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 (see also § 16.051)). Texas uses one 4-year period for all debt: § 16.004(a)(3) covers actions for 'debt,' § 16.004(c) covers open or stated accounts, and the residual § 16.051 is also 4 years — so a medical bill is 4 years whether treated as a written contract, oral contract, or open account. 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 | 4 years |
| Oral agreements | 4 years |
| Open accounts (credit cards) | 4 years |
| Medical debt | 4 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: Generally no — reviving a time-barred debt requires a signed written acknowledgment (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.065); partial payment alone does not restart limitations under Texas case law, and for debt-buyer-owned consumer debt no payment or affirmation can revive it at all (Tex. Fin. Code § 392.307).
Texas protections for medical debt
- Itemized bill required before medical debt collection (SB 490, 2023) (Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 185 (added by SB 490, 88th Leg., eff. Sept. 1, 2023)) — A healthcare provider must send the patient a written, plain-language itemized bill of each service and supply before requesting payment, and may not pursue debt collection against the patient unless it has complied; violations are treated as licensing-law violations.
- No revival of time-barred debt-buyer debt (HB 996, 2019) (Tex. Fin. Code § 392.307) — A debt buyer may not sue or arbitrate on consumer debt after limitations runs, the expired claim is NOT revived by any payment or oral/written affirmation, and time-barred-debt notices are required in collection letters.
- 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 Texas sets for collectors
Beyond the federal FDCPA, Texas has its own collection statute — the Texas Debt Collection Act (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 392). Prohibits threats, harassment, fraudulent or deceptive representations, and unfair collection practices by both creditors and third-party collectors; provides a private right of action (injunction plus actual damages and statutory damages) and tie-in to the DTPA.
No license, but third-party debt collectors and credit bureaus must obtain a $10,000 surety bond and file a copy with the Texas Secretary of State before collecting (Tex. Fin. Code § 392.101).
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 4 years, the debt may be time-barred in Texas.
- 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 Texas
Texas 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 Texas?
The statute of limitations on medical debt in Texas is 4 years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 (see also § 16.051)). Texas uses one 4-year period for all debt: § 16.004(a)(3) covers actions for 'debt,' § 16.004(c) covers open or stated accounts, and the residual § 16.051 is also 4 years — so a medical bill is 4 years whether treated as a written contract, oral contract, or open account. 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 4 years in Texas?
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 Texas?
Generally no — reviving a time-barred debt requires a signed written acknowledgment (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.065); partial payment alone does not restart limitations under Texas case law, and for debt-buyer-owned consumer debt no payment or affirmation can revive it at all (Tex. Fin. Code § 392.307).
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 Texas 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. Texas 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 Texas?
File with the Texas Attorney General Consumer Protection Division (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-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 Texas
- 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 Wyoming
- Medical debt laws in Connecticut
- Medical debt laws in Indiana
- Medical debt laws in Massachusetts
- Medical debt laws in Nevada
- Medical debt laws in Ohio
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.