How long do I have before collections?
A nonprofit hospital must wait at least 120 days from your first bill before extraordinary collection action, and must let you apply for financial assistance for at least 240 days. Enter your first bill's date to see both dates for your case.
What to do with these dates
- Before the 120-day mark, the hospital should not be reporting the debt, selling it, or suing. If a collector is already pressing you, say so in writing and cite the date.
- Any time inside the 240-day window, you can still apply for financial assistance — even if the bill already feels overdue. Look up your hospital to confirm it's a nonprofit and get its policy.
- Ask for the account to be held while your application is reviewed — no late fees, interest, credit reporting or collections referral.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 120-day and 240-day deadlines?
Under IRS Section 501(r)(6), a nonprofit hospital must wait at least 120 days from your first post-discharge billing statement before taking extraordinary collection action (selling the debt, reporting it to credit bureaus, or suing), and must accept a financial assistance application for at least 240 days from that same statement. This tool counts those windows from the date you enter.
Does this apply to every hospital?
These specific deadlines come from federal law that binds nonprofit (501(c)(3)) hospitals. For-profit hospitals are not bound by them, though many follow similar timelines. Look up your hospital in our directory to see which category it falls in.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a date calculation based on the published federal rule, to help you see roughly where you stand. Your specific hospital may allow longer. Confirm dates with the hospital in writing.