Medical Debt Protections in California
State protections for medical debt in California, including credit reporting and collection limits.
Short answer: No one may report medical debt to a credit reporting agency, and a medical debt is void and unenforceable if it is knowingly reported. Cal. Civ. Code § 1785.27; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 685.010(a)(2), 683.110(c)
| Medical debt protections | No one may report medical debt to a credit reporting agency, and a medical debt is void and unenforceable if it is knowingly reported. Medical debt contracts signed on or after July 1, 2025 must include a notice of this rule or they are void. Judgments for medical debt under $200,000 bear interest at 5% (not 10%) and can be renewed only once, for 5 years. |
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Where to get help in California
- California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), which licenses debt collectors and enforces the Rosenthal Act
- File a complaint or claim
More California debt & collections
- Statute of Limitations on Debt in California
- Wage Garnishment in California
- How to Respond to a Debt Collection Lawsuit in California
- What Creditors Can't Take in California
- All California debt & collections rules
FAQ
What protections apply to medical debt in California?
No one may report medical debt to a credit reporting agency, and a medical debt is void and unenforceable if it is knowingly reported. Medical debt contracts signed on or after July 1, 2025 must include a notice of this rule or they are void. Judgments for medical debt under $200,000 bear interest at 5% (not 10%) and can be renewed only once, for 5 years.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.