Medical Debt Statute of Limitations in Colorado

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

6 years

from Date cause of action accrues; for medical debt, typically date of last service or when the liquidated debt first became due and was not paid. Discovery rule may extend if breach was not reasonably discoverable., under C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5.

Colorado law sets a hard deadline of 6 years to sue over unpaid medical bills. The controlling statute is C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5, and the clock generally starts on Date cause of action accrues; for medical debt, typically date of last service or when the liquidated debt first became due and was not paid. Discovery rule may extend if breach was not reasonably discoverable.. Below: exactly when that clock starts, the exceptions that can pause it, and the traps that shorten it.

Colorado Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Medical Debt	6 years	C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5
Car Accident	3 yrs	C.R.S. § 13-80-101(1)(n)
Credit Card Debt	6 yrs	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5(1)(a)
Medical Malpractice	2 yrs	C.R.S. § 13-80-102.5
Wrongful Death	2 yrs	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-21-204 (via § 13-80-102)
Personal Injury	2 yrs	C.R.S. § 13-80-102(1)(a)
Dog Bite	2 yrs	C.R.S. § 13-80-102
Slip and Fall	2 yrs	C.R.S. § 13-80-102
Defamation	1 yr	C.R.S. § 13-80-103(1)(a)
Breach of Contract	3 yrs	Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101(1)(a)

When the Clock Starts

In Colorado, the limitations period for medical debt collection generally begins on Date cause of action accrues; for medical debt, typically date of last service or when the liquidated debt first became due and was not paid. Discovery rule may extend if breach was not reasonably discoverable.. Colorado recognizes a discovery rule for this claim type: Colorado applies the discovery rule; the SOL begins when the plaintiff discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury and its cause. For medical debt specifically, Colorado courts confirmed in Portercare Adventist Health Sys. v. Lego (2013) that medical service debt is a 'liquidated debt' under § 13-80-103.5 because services are billed at pre-determined rates.

Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline

Minors: the clock is generally paused while the injured person is under 18.
Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.
Government-claim trap: Claims against government-owned hospitals require written notice of claim within 182 days under C.R.S. § 24-10-109 (Colorado Governmental Immunity Act). Failure to file timely bars the action.

Colorado medical debt is governed by the 6-year SOL for liquidated debt under § 13-80-103.5, not the general 3-year contract limitation under § 13-80-101. The Colorado Supreme Court in Portercare Adventist Health Sys. v. Lego confirmed that itemized medical bills at pre-determined rates constitute liquidated debt. A 3-year SOL under § 13-80-101 applies only to non-debt contract breach claims. Colorado does not yet have a specific medical debt credit reporting ban (unlike California), but the state has enacted hospital billing protections.

Source: C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5, official Colorado statute · verified 2026-07

What to Do Before the Deadline Runs

Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Colorado government defendants).
If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.

How Colorado Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Colorado	6 years	C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5
Wyoming	10 yrs	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(i)
Nebraska	5 yrs	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205
Kansas	5 yrs	K.S.A. § 60-511(1)
Oklahoma	5 yrs	Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(1)
New Mexico	6 yrs	N.M.S.A. § 37-1-3
Utah	6 yrs	Utah Code § 78B-2-309

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to sue over unpaid medical bills in Colorado?

You have 6 years from Date cause of action accrues; for medical debt, typically date of last service or when the liquidated debt first became due and was not paid. Discovery rule may extend if breach was not reasonably discoverable., under C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5.

Can I still sue after 6 years in Colorado?

Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (the discovery rule, tolling for minors, fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.

Does the discovery rule apply to medical debt collection in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado applies the discovery rule; the SOL begins when the plaintiff discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury and its cause. For medical debt specifically, Colorado courts confirmed in Portercare Adventist Health Sys. v. Lego (2013) that medical service debt is a 'liquidated debt' under § 13-80-103.5 because services are billed at pre-determined rates.

What if the victim was a minor?

Colorado generally pauses ("tolls") the deadline while the injured person is under 18, giving them time to file after reaching adulthood. Special limits can still apply, so check the statute.

Is the deadline different for claims against the government?

Claims against government-owned hospitals require written notice of claim within 182 days under C.R.S. § 24-10-109 (Colorado Governmental Immunity Act). Failure to file timely bars the action.

Sources

Official C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5 Colorado Revised Statutes Title 13 - Colorado General Assembly Official
Corroborating Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-80-103.5 General Limitation Six Years - Justia US Law
Corroborating C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5 - FindLaw
Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Colorado attorney.