GlobalInsight

Medical Debt and Your Credit Score in 2025: New Reporting Limits and Real Risks For many U.S. households, the biggest hit to a credit score is not a maxed-out credit card or missed loan payment. It’s an unexpected medical bill. One emergency room visit, out-of-network specialist, or billing error can create hundreds or thousands of dollars in charges. When those bills go unpaid, they may be sold to collections and can still show up on credit reports in 2025. Over the last few years, the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—have changed how they handle medical collections. Paid medical debts and some smaller balances have been removed, and regulators are pushing for even stronger limits on how healthcare bills appear in credit files. That’s good news for many patients, but it does not mean medical debt is harmless or can be ignored. This guide explains what has changed by 2025, who is most affected, what risks remain, and the practical steps you ca...