MD · medical-debt statute of limitations
Maryland
Written contract
3 yr
Open account / oral
3 yr
Most common for medical
3 yr
Open-account period
How medical debt is treated in Maryland
Maryland applies a 3-year limit to most civil actions, including medical bills (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). The 12-year period applies only to sealed instruments.
Last checked June 16, 2026.
Can the clock restart?
Maryland prohibits reviving an expired consumer debt by a payment or acknowledgment (§ 5-1202). A payment on an expired debt does not restart the clock.
Medical-debt credit reporting in Maryland
Maryland HB 1020 (effective Oct 1, 2025) restricts medical-debt credit reporting. Enforceability is subject to the federal-preemption dispute.
Estimate the window for your Maryland debt
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Not yet professionally reviewed.
Treat all content as general information, not legal advice.
Maryland 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.