Medical Debt Statute of Limitations in Florida

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b) ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline to sue over unpaid medical bills in Florida is 5 years, set by Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b). It starts running on Date written contract was breached (typically date service was rendered or payment became due); for licensed-facility debts referred to third-party collection, clock runs from date of referral under § 95.11(4). This page covers the exceptions, the government-claim trap, and the steps to take before time runs out.

Florida Deadlines for Related Claims

When the Clock Starts

In Florida, the limitations period for medical debt collection generally begins on Date written contract was breached (typically date service was rendered or payment became due); for licensed-facility debts referred to third-party collection, clock runs from date of referral under § 95.11(4). Florida does not apply a general discovery rule to this claim type — the date of the event controls, which makes early action critical.

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.

Florida § 95.11(2)(b) sets a 5-year SOL for written contract actions, which applies to most medical bills with signed patient financial agreements. A specific medical debt provision added in 2023 under § 95.11(4) creates a 3-year SOL — running from the date of referral to a third-party collector — for 'medical debt for services rendered by a facility licensed under chapter 395' (hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers). Doctor's-office bills from non-chapter-395 providers retain the 5-year written or 4-year oral period (§ 95.11(3)(j)). Minor tolling is limited under § 95.051 with a 7-year outer cap from the date of the act giving rise to the claim.

Source: Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b), official Florida statute · verified 2026-07

What to Do Before the Deadline Runs

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

How Florida Compares to Nearby States

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

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