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This commission may impact how and where certain products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Read more about Select on , and click to read our full advertiser disclosure.New federal rule removes medical debt from credit reportsThe change will remove an estimated $49 billion from the credit reports of 15 million Americans.Updated Tue, Jan 7 2025ShareShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via EmailOn Jan. 7, 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that will ban the inclusion of medical debt on credit reports and prohibit lenders from using medical information in their approval decisions. The CFPB estimates the rule change will remove an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports of about 15 million Americans. It will also improve privacy protections and prevent debt collectors from pressuring consumer to pay bills they don't owe. The bureau reports that, even though it leads to thousands of denied loan applications annually, medical debt is a poor predictor of a borrowers' creditworthiness. Americans with medical debt on their record could see their credit score rise by an average of 20 points as a result of the rule change, it added, and approximately 22,000 more mortgages will be approved each year.Initially proposed in June 2024, the measure should take effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register.Medical debt and your credit scoreFind debt relief companiesHow does medical debt work?Even if you have insurance, there are deductibles to meet and copays to cover. In addition, your policy may have a coverage limit or not pay for certain treatments.After your insurer pays its share, your provider will bill you for the remainder. They may attempt to collect payment through letters, emails or phone calls. If you still haven't paid after several months, the debt could be sold to a medical collections agency, which will try to collect it.Medical debt can come from a variety of sources, including:Hospital visitsSurgeriesDoctor and dentist appointmentsPrescriptionsAmbulance companiesCan medical debt affect your credit?As long as your debt remains with your provider, it's not reported to credit bureaus. After several months of non-payment, however, they may sell your debt to a collections agency.In April 2023, the three main credit bureaus — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax — stopped including medical debt under $500 in credit reports. According to , the change eliminated nearly 70% of medical collection debt from credit reports.Outstanding balances over $500, however, could still appear on your credit report for seven years, the same as any other kind of debt.The two major credit scoring companies, and , also changed how medical bills impact their scoring methods: VantageScore from its calculations in January 2023, while FICO it has on your score.In January 2025, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau approved a new regulation that prevents nearly all medical debt from appearing on credit reports, no matter the amount.According to the CFPB, the rule change:Removes exceptions that let lenders use information about medical debt to make determinations about someone's creditworthiness.Prohibits credit reporting agencies from including medical debt on credit reports sent to creditors if the creditor is prohibited from considering it.Bars lenders from using medical devices like wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs as collateral for loans or from repossessing them if someone can't repay the loan.The rule change impacts past-due payments from a medical provider and money owed to a collections agency. If you're behind on a personal loan or credit card that you used to pay your medical bills, it could still appear on your report.Tips for tackling medical debtIf you're swamped with medical bills, you have several options.Negotiate your bill"Providers are more than willing to settle on these things," healthcare reform advocate Jeff Smedsrud told CNBC Select. "They're willing to get paid something, rather than nothing. Review the charges together and try to negotiate a deal."Most hospitals have , especially for patients who meet income requirements.Set up a payment planYour provider may allow you to pay what you owe in monthly installments, Smedsrud said, possibly with no interest.Research nonprofits and government agenciesOrganizations like and the work with individuals to pay off medical debts. If you qualify for, you may be able to have medical bills covered retroactively. Consider debt consolidation or debt settlementThe CFPB proposal is not expected to protect your credit score if you're behind on a credit card you used to pay off a stiff medical bill. In that case, a could get you a lower interest rate and more time to settle the debt. negotiate with collections agencies to get your balance reduced. You will pay a fee — as much as 25% of your balance — so make sure enrolling makes financial sense. works with medical debt and claims it can get clients debt-free in as little as two years.Cost25% of enrolled debtHighlightsAccredited Debt Relief has been in the business since 2011 and offers debt relief options to those with at least $10,000 of debt, including credit card debt, personal loan debt and medical debt.App availableYesFAQsDoes medical debt affect your credit score?A rule change enacted the CFPB prevents nearly all medical debt from being reported to credit bureaus, regardless of the amount. If you are behind on a loan payment or credit card bill you used to pay for medical care, however, that could still impact your credit score.Am I responsible for my spouse's medical debt?Whether you're liable for a spouse's medical debt depends on the state where you live and other factors. If your spouse has died, you're generally not responsible for their debts.When will the new ruling on medical debt take effect?The rule is slated to go into effect 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register.Subscribe to the CNBC Select Newsletter!Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. .Why trust CNBC Select?At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of , and , and follow us on , , and to stay up to date.Read moreEditorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.Terms ApplyCheck out and compare offers through our Terms ApplyFind the card that offers the right rates and rewards for you.Your Privacy Choices© 2025 SELECT | All rights reserved. The use of this website means that you accept the confidentiality regulations and the conditions of service., Unpaid medical bills may take a long time to show up on your credit report, but the damage to your credit score can be long-lasting once they do. Unpaid medical collection accounts over $500 can remain on your credit report for seven years after they become delinquent; however once they are paid, they will be removed from your report., The two major credit scoring companies, FICO® and VantageScore, also changed how medical bills impact their scoring methods: VantageScore removed all medical debt from its calculations in January .