Question 1

What date should I enter?

Accepted Answer

Enter the date the limitations clock most likely started. In most states the clock runs from the date of last activity on the account — often the last payment — rather than the original date of service. If you have made no payments, it may run from the date the bill became due. When in doubt, try the most recent payment date and the date of service and compare.

Question 2

Is medical debt a written contract or an open account?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the facts and the state. If you signed a payment agreement, a state's written-contract period may apply; if not, the shorter open-account or oral-contract period often applies. The decoder lets you toggle between the two so you can see both, and the state page explains which is more common for unsigned medical bills.

Question 3

Does the decoder tell me whether I owe the debt?

Accepted Answer

No. It estimates whether the debt is likely past your state's statute of limitations for collection — a separate question from whether the debt is valid or accurate. A time-barred debt can still appear on records and a collector can still ask you to pay it voluntarily; they generally just cannot sue to collect it.

Question 4

Can the clock restart?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and this is the most important caveat. In many states, making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing restarts the limitations period from zero. The decoder flags your state's revival rule, but you should avoid making any payment or written admission on an old debt until you understand the consequences.

Is your medical debt past the limitations window?

Reading the estimate