logo
welcome
USA Today

USA Today

Costly care: How a federal rule would protect consumers credit from unpaid medical debt

USA Today
Summary
Nutrition label

82% Informative

The CFPB wants to eliminate all medical debt from credit reports.

Medical bills accounted for 58% of debt collection on consumers' credit records, a 2002 report says.

The agency is reviewing comments and is working toward finalizing a rule that would take effect in 2025 .

Advocates say the rule would provide clear protection for patients.

George Curlee , 50 , recently had to get his toe amputated due to complications from diabetes.

He spent two weeks in hospital recovering from the procedure, an extended medical stay that left him with more than $20,000 in medical bills.

A study found 99,000 Massachusetts cancer patients struggling with debt.