Medical debt collectors get another year before new rules kick in

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau pushed back the start date for new rules on medical debt collection. This means debt collectors have until January 2, 2025, to comply with rules meant to stop unfair practices.

The CFPB issued an advisory opinion in 2023 clarifying that collecting medical debt that was already paid by insurance, or that consumers don't owe, is an unfair practice. This rule change gives debt collectors more time to adjust their systems before those clarifications are enforced. It means consumers will continue to face potentially unfair medical debt collection practices for another year.