Medical collections are the most over-reported item we see. Since 2023 the three bureaus don't report paid medical collections, medical collections under $500, or any medical collection less than a year old. If one is on your report anyway, it comes off on dispute. For larger, older medical collections, the normal validation and negotiation process applies, and medical providers are often more willing to delete than other creditors.
Who it's for
Anyone with medical collections on their report, especially small ones, paid ones, ones from insurance disputes, or ones that showed up before a bill was even settled.
The current rules
- Paid medical collections are not reported by Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
- Medical collections under $500 are not reported.
- Medical collections less than a year past the date of service are not reported, to give insurance time to pay.
- Newer scoring models (FICO 9, FICO 10, VantageScore 4) weigh medical collections less than other collections; older models that many lenders still use don’t make that distinction.
These are voluntary bureau policies, not statute, and they can change. A federal rule that would have removed medical debt from reports entirely was struck down in 2025. We check the current rules on every file.
How we work medical debt
- Check each medical item against the three rules above; dispute anything that violates them.
- Confirm the balance against your explanation of benefits. Billing errors and insurance-processing delays are common.
- Validate the collection with the collector and the provider.
- Negotiate. Hospitals and physician groups frequently agree to delete on payment, and many have financial-assistance programs that reduce or forgive the balance.
- Dispute with the bureaus if the collector agrees to delete and doesn’t.
If you can’t pay
Nonprofit hospitals are required to have financial-assistance policies. Ask for one before you negotiate. A balance that qualifies for assistance may be reduced or forgiven outright, and the collection deleted.
Want it handled?
You can do everything on this page yourself. If you'd rather have Laura build the strategy and run the rounds, start with a free consultation.
Request a Free ConsultationRead the DIY guide →Related questions
Do medical collections affect my credit score?
Yes, under most models lenders currently use. Less under newer models. And not at all if the bureaus shouldn't be reporting them under their own rules.
My medical collection is paid but still on my report. What now?
Dispute it. The bureaus don't report paid medical collections, and it should be removed.
Should I pay a medical collection to get it removed?
Under current bureau policy, paying a medical collection should result in it being removed. Get the collector's agreement in writing anyway, and dispute if it isn't.
Can I do this myself?
Yes. Medical disputes are among the most straightforward in our DIY guide.
Free consultation
Not sure what this means for your file?
The consultation is free and it's a conversation, not a pitch. A house, a car, a fresh start, or just being done feeling embarrassed when someone pulls your credit: whatever it is, you'll leave knowing what your file needs, even if the answer is "do it yourself."
Month-to-month. No long-term contract. Cancel anytime.