How long can a medical debt be collected in California?

California applies its contract statute of limitations to medical debt. The period is 4 years for written contracts and 2 years for open accounts or oral contracts. For most unsigned medical bills the open-account period (about 2 years) is the one most likely to apply. Unsigned medical bills are open-book accounts (2 years, Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339); a signed agreement invokes the 4-year written-contract period (§ 337). Always confirm against the statute linked on this page.

What if the limitations period has passed?

If the debt is past California's limitations period it is "time-barred." Under the CFPB's Regulation F a collector may not sue or threaten to sue on a time-barred debt, though it can still ask you to pay voluntarily. You can send a time-barred-debt notice — but be careful not to make a payment or written admission that could restart the clock.

CA · medical-debt statute of limitations

California

Last checked June 16, 2026

Written contract

4 yr

Open account / oral

2 yr

Most common for medical

2 yr

Open-account period

How medical debt is treated in California

Unsigned medical bills are open-book accounts (2 years, Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339); a signed agreement invokes the 4-year written-contract period (§ 337).

Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339(1)Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337(a)

Last checked June 16, 2026.

Can the clock restart?

California requires a signed writing to revive a debt (§ 360); a payment alone does NOT revive an expired debt.

Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 360

Medical-debt credit reporting in California

California's SB 1061 bars medical debt from consumer credit reports (effective Jan 1, 2025). Note: a 2025 CFPB interpretive rule asserts federal FCRA preemption of state medical-debt reporting bans, so enforceability is contested.

California SB 1061

Estimate the window for your California debt

Enter the date the clock most likely started — usually the date of last payment or activity.

1 · Your state2 · Date the clock most likely startedUsually the date of the most recent payment or activity — not always the date of service.

SOL type:

Select your state and a date to see an estimate of whether the debt is within your state's limitations window.

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Treat all content as general information, not legal advice.

California medical-debt questions

Note on credit reporting: The CFPB finalized a rule in January 2025 to remove most medical bills from consumer credit reports, but it was VACATED on July 11, 2025 by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB) and is NOT in effect as of 2026. The court also held that the federal FCRA preempts similar state laws. Do not assume medical bills are barred from credit reports under federal law — confirm the current status on consumerfinance.gov. CFPB.

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