How to Remove Medical Bills from Your Credit Report

Medical bills can often end up on your credit report if they remain unpaid or if there are errors during the billing or insurance process. Fortunately, there are specific steps you can take to remove these negative marks and protect your credit score.

Step 1: Verify the Medical Debt

Begin by verifying the accuracy of the medical debt:

• Request your credit report from the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion).

• Obtain an itemized bill from the healthcare provider.

• Cross-check the amount with your insurance records to ensure accuracy.

If you find discrepancies or errors, you can dispute them.

Step 2: Confirm Insurance Coverage

Sometimes, medical debts appear on your credit report due to miscommunication or delays with insurance claims. Here’s what to do:

• Contact your insurance provider to confirm whether the bill should have been covered.

• Request that the provider reprocess the claim if necessary.

• Obtain written confirmation from your insurance provider once the issue is resolved.

Step 3: Dispute Inaccurate Medical Debt

If the medical bill is inaccurate or invalid, you can dispute it with the credit bureau reporting the debt:

1. Write a dispute letter to the credit bureau and explain the issue.

2. Include copies of supporting documentation, such as insurance explanations of benefits (EOBs) or billing statements.

3. The credit bureau will investigate and respond within 30 days.

If the debt is found to be inaccurate, it will be removed from your credit report.

Step 4: Negotiate with the Collection Agency

If the medical bill has been sent to collections, you can try negotiating to have it removed:

• Request a pay-for-delete agreement, where the collection agency removes the account from your credit report in exchange for payment.

• Ensure the agreement is in writing before making any payments.

Not all collection agencies will agree to this, but it’s worth pursuing.

Step 5: Utilize the Medical Debt Protection Rule

Recent changes to credit reporting rules have provided more protections for consumers with medical debt:

• 12-Month Grace Period: Credit bureaus must wait 12 months before adding unpaid medical debt to your credit report.

• Under $500 Rule: As of 2023, medical debts under $500 are no longer reported on credit reports.

• Paid Medical Debt: Once medical debts are paid, they must be removed from your credit report.

These rules can work in your favor if your medical debt falls within these categories.

Step 6: Seek Professional Assistance

If you’re overwhelmed or unsure about how to proceed, consider professional credit repair services. At Smart Credit Solutions, we specialize in:

• Disputing inaccurate medical debts.

• Negotiating with collection agencies on your behalf.

• Ensuring compliance with the latest credit reporting laws.