If you are one of the millions of Americans struggling with medical bills, the landscape has changed. Thanks to new rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in 2025, it is now much easier to Remove Medical Debt from your credit report.
This means many negative marks that were once dragging down your score may now be illegal to report. In this guide, we will show you how to use these new laws to Remove Medical Debt quickly.
(For non-medical collections, try our guide on Goodwill Letters).
The 2026 Medical Debt Rules: What Changed?
The new regulations address a simple truth: getting sick is not a choice. Here are the three biggest changes that help you Remove Medical Debt in 2026:
1. Paid Medical Debt Is Gone
The New Rule: Once a medical debt is paid or settled, the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) must delete it from your report entirely. It should disappear as if it never happened.
2. The $500 Threshold
The New Rule: Medical collections under $500 should no longer appear on credit reports at all—even if they are unpaid. This makes it automatic to Remove Medical Debt for small bills.
3. The One-Year Waiting Period
The New Rule: Unpaid medical debt over $500 cannot be reported until it is at least 365 days past due. This gives you a full year to resolve billing errors with insurance.
How to Remove Medical Debt (Action Plan)
If you still see medical collections on your report, it’s time to take action.
Step 1: Check Your Report for Violations
Pull your free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for any violations:
Is the balance under $500?
Is it a debt you already paid?
Is it less than a year old?
Step 2: Dispute Immediately
If you find a violation, file a dispute immediately. State clearly: “This collection violates new CFPB guidelines. Please Remove Medical Debt item immediately.”
Step 3: What If I Owe a Large, Valid Debt?
If you have an unpaid bill over $500, do not ignore it.
Negotiate: Try to settle for a lower amount. Once paid, it must be deleted.
Consolidate: If you need to borrow money to pay it off, consider a lower-interest Debt Consolidation Loan instead of using credit cards.
Conclusion
The era of medical bills ruining your financial future is ending. The new laws in 2026 provide powerful tools to Remove Medical Debt.
Don’t let illegal collections drag you down. Check your report today.
(Once your report is clean, learn how to keep building your score in our master guide: How to Boost Credit Score Fast).
