Fighting Medical Debt in Pennsylvania
I got a medical bill I can't afford — here's what Pennsylvania law says and what to do next.
Statute: 40 Pa. Stat. § 908-H (Pennsylvania Surprise Billing Protections — Act 112)
Deadline: 120 days
Penalty: Pennsylvania's Act 112 prohibits surprise billing for emergency and certain non-emergency services. Violations may result in penalties from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department
What is fighting medical debt?
Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States, affecting an estimated 100 million Americans. Recent federal actions have significantly strengthened your rights when dealing with medical debt — including new rules removing most medical debt from credit reports and protections against surprise billing.
The No Surprises Act (effective January 2022) protects you from unexpected bills when you receive emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility without your consent. Additionally, the three major credit bureaus voluntarily removed medical debt under $500 from credit reports in 2023, and the CFPB finalized a rule in January 2025 to remove all medical debt from credit reports, but a federal court vacated that rule in July 2025 (Cornerstone Credit Union League v. CFPB) before it took effect.
What to Do If You Get a Medical Bill You Can't Afford
Step 1: Request an itemized bill. Medical billing errors are extremely common — studies suggest up to 80% of medical bills contain errors. Compare the itemized bill against your insurance Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
Step 2: If you received a surprise bill (out-of-network charges you didn't consent to), file a complaint under the No Surprises Act. Contact your insurer, the provider, and CMS at 1-800-985-3059. You should only owe your in-network cost-sharing amount.
Step 3: Ask the hospital about financial assistance. If the hospital is a nonprofit (most are), they must have a financial assistance policy. Request the application — you may qualify for free or reduced-cost care even with insurance.
Step 4: Negotiate the bill. Hospitals regularly accept less than the full amount. Ask for a reduction, a payment plan with no interest, or offer a lump-sum settlement for a lower amount. Get any agreement in writing.
Step 5: If the debt goes to collections, know your FDCPA rights. Request debt validation in writing within 30 days. Medical debt collectors must follow the same rules as any other debt collector. If the debt is on your credit report, check whether it qualifies for removal under the new credit reporting rules.
How Pennsylvania differs from federal law
Pennsylvania has limited specific medical debt protections but benefits from strong wage garnishment restrictions:
- No specific medical debt law: Pennsylvania does not have a comprehensive medical debt protection statute. Medical debt is treated as general consumer debt under most circumstances.
- Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act (73 P.S. § 2270.4): Prohibits unfair and deceptive practices in debt collection, including medical debt collection. This law covers both original creditors and third-party collectors.
- Statute of limitations: The statute of limitations for medical debt in Pennsylvania is 4 years under the contract statute of limitations (42 Pa.C.S. § 5525). After 4 years, collectors cannot sue to collect.
- No wage garnishment: Pennsylvania exempts all wages from garnishment for consumer debts, including medical debt. This is one of the strongest debtor protections in the nation.
- Hospital financial assistance: Nonprofit hospitals in PA (the majority) must maintain charity care and financial assistance programs. Patients should apply before bills go to collections.
Additional steps in Pennsylvania
Request an itemized bill and ask about financial assistance programs before bills go to collections. File complaints about unfair collection practices with the PA Attorney General at (800) 441-2555. Contact Community Legal Services in Philadelphia at (215) 981-3700 or call 211 for statewide assistance.
What you should NOT do
Don't pay a bill you haven't verified. Always request an itemized bill and compare it to your insurance EOB before paying. Errors are extremely common.
Don't put medical debt on a credit card. Medical debt has special protections (lower interest, financial assistance eligibility, credit reporting limits) that you lose once you transfer it to a credit card.
Don't ignore the bill entirely. While medical debt protections are expanding, ignoring bills can lead to lawsuits, wage garnishment, and damage to your credit that could have been avoided through negotiation or financial assistance.
Don't assume you don't qualify for financial assistance. Income thresholds for hospital charity care programs are often surprisingly high (200-400% of the federal poverty level). Apply even if you think your income is too high.
You shouldn't have to hire a lawyer to assert your rights.
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Generate your medical bill dispute →This page is general legal information for Pennsylvania, not legal advice for your specific situation. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on facts we don't know. For advice on your matter, consult a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania.