Medical Debt Statute of Limitations in Indiana

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

6 years

from Date of last service or date of first missed payment (default), under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9.

Under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9, you have 6 years from Date of last service or date of first missed payment (default) to sue over unpaid medical bills in Indiana. Miss it and you lose the right to sue — but several Indiana-specific exceptions can extend (or shorten) that window, detailed below.

Indiana Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Medical Debt	6 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9
Car Accident	2 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4(a)
Credit Card Debt	6 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9
Medical Malpractice	2 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-18-7-1
Wrongful Death	2 yrs	Indiana Code § 34-23-1-1
Personal Injury	2 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4(a)(1)
Dog Bite	2 yrs	Ind. Code § 15-20-1-3
Slip and Fall	2 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4
Defamation	2 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4
Breach of Contract	10 yrs	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-11

When the Clock Starts

In Indiana, the limitations period for medical debt collection generally begins on Date of last service or date of first missed payment (default). Indiana 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.

Applies to written contracts for payment of money executed after August 31, 1982. Medical bills with signed patient financial responsibility agreements fall within this 6-year period. Contracts executed before September 1, 1982 carry a 10-year period. Distinct from IC § 34-11-2-11 (general written contracts not for payment of money, 10 years).

Source: Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9, official Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
Indiana	6 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9
Illinois	5 yrs	735 ILCS 5/13-205
Kentucky	10 yrs	KRS § 413.160
Ohio	6 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06
Michigan	6 yrs	MCL 600.5807

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You have 6 years from Date of last service or date of first missed payment (default), under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9.

Can I still sue after 6 years in Indiana?

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

What if the victim was a minor?

Indiana 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.

Sources

Official Indiana Code § 34-11-2-9 — Promissory Notes and Written Contracts for Payment of Money (Indiana General Assembly)
Corroborating Indiana Code § 34-11-2-9 — Justia Law
Corroborating Indiana Code § 34-11-2-9 — 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 Indiana attorney.