What is the statute of limitations in Iowa for filing a medical malpractice suit?

Answer 1

If you owe a medical bill, you always owe it. There is no "statute" of limitations. If the medical provider gets a judgement against you, that judgement gets recorded on your credit report(s) (eg. Experian, Equifax, TransUnion). According to fair credit laws in your state, that judgement may have to be removed from your report(s) after a certain period of time, such as 7 or 10 years.

But you still owe the money.

Some debts are "charged off" after a while by creditors, just to get them off the books. If that happens, you are forgiven that date. Then, once the bad debt is removed from your credit report(s), it is as if you never had that debt.

Actually, there is a statute of limitations on medical and other bills. Whoever wrote the answer above is not totally correct. Each state differs, but in Iowa, it is generally 5 years. Yes, if you owe a bill, you technically always owe it, unless the creditor "forgives" the debt. However, there is a statute of limitations as to how long they can take you to court and collect on it. In Iowa, for example, if you have a medical bill from say 2004, and it is still with the collection agency who is trying to collect on it, there is nothing they can do to you to force you to pay it. They can harass and threaten you all they want, but they have no legal recourse. It takes a court order to garnish your wages, so if your case never went to court, and it's over 5 years old, they cannot take it into court. Well, let me correct that - they can try, but all you have to do is show up for the court date (alone, no expensive attorney needed), and tell the judge that the bill is over 5 years old, and past the statute of limitations for collecting, and the judge will have no choice but to dismiss the case. Now the collection agency is out even more money, and they still can't collect on your debt. It is always best to avoid the whole court thing though, and just send the collection agency a letter letting them know that they are trying to collect on a debt that is past the statute of limitations in your state, and that you know there is nothing they can do to you legally, so they may as well save their money and quit bothering you with letters and phone calls. Now, they were correct on the credit report entry. Even if your state has a 5 year statute of limitation, and the bill cannot be collected on in court, it will still remain on your credit report until it is 7 years old, and then it will drop off.

Answer 2

In Idaho they have set medical debts documented in writing at 5 years. That gives them a fairly long period of time in which to collect. And it will be measured from the last acknowledgment of the debt, payment or letter from the person who owes.

Answer 3

Iowa has set the statute of limitations at 5 years. A credit card is an open ended account. That will be from the last communications from the debtor. Please note that the credit card may be based on a different jurisdiction which could be longer! Check your agreement for the applicable jurisdiction.

Answer 4

It is important to stay up to date with all of your bills including your medical bills. If you fall behind on them in Nebraska the statute of limitations to collect on the bill is five years.

Answer 5

I would like to know if a bills is dated May 27 , 2007 do i have to pay this bill. I know there's a staue of limation for Hawaii is two years.

Answer 6

Medical malpractice is a personal injury. In Iowa it has a limit of 2 years. There may be some tolling based on discovery of the injury.