Navigating medical bills in the U.S.
$88 billion of outstanding medical bills are currently in collections – affecting one in five Americans. Our infographic has tips for navigating the complex medical billing and collections system.
Blog posts
- Debt collectors re-evaluate medical debt furnishing in light of data integrity issues
- You can help caregivers spot illegal nursing home debt collection tactics
- Know your rights and protections when it comes to medical bills and collections
- Are you getting the help with your medical bills you are entitled to?
- No Surprises Act: How we are protecting people from the side effects of surprise medical bills
- View all blog posts on medical debt
Reports
- Medical Billing and Collections Among Older Americans
- Medical Credit Cards and Financing Plans
- Market Snapshot: Trends in Third-Party Debt Collections Tradelines Reporting
- Issue Spotlight: Nursing Home Debt Collection
- Understanding Required Financial Assistance in Medical Care
- Consumer Credit Trends: Paid and Low-Balance Medical Collections on Consumer Credit Reports
- Complaint Bulletin: Medical billing and collection issues described in consumer complaints
- Medical debt burden in the United States
- Data point: Medical debt and credit scores
- Consumer credit reports: A study of medical and non-medical collections
- View all reports on medical debt
Press releases
- CFPB Report Highlights Costly Credit Cards and Loans Pushed on Patients
- CFPB Finds One-Third Decline in Collections Items on Consumer Credit Reports
- CFPB and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Take Action to Protect Caregivers and Families from Illegal Nursing Home Debt Collection Practices
- CFPB Estimates $88 Billion in Medical Bills on Credit Reports
- CFPB Issues Bulletin to Prevent Unlawful Medical Debt Collection and Credit Reporting
- CFPB Releases Report Detailing Consumer Complaint Response Deficiencies of the Big Three Credit Bureaus
- View all press releases on medical debt
Compliance
- Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2022-05: Debt collection and consumer reporting practices involving invalid nursing home debts
- Bulletin 2022-01: Medical Debt Collection and Consumer Reporting Requirements in Connection with the No Surprises Act
- CFPB Takes Action Against Medical Debt Collector
- CFPB Takes Action Against Two Law Firms for Misrepresenting Attorney Involvement to Collect on Medical Debts