Medical Debt Statute of Limitations in New York

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: N.Y. CPLR § 213-D ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline

3 years

from Date of treatment, under N.Y. CPLR § 213-D.

Under N.Y. CPLR § 213-D, you have 3 years from Date of treatment to sue over unpaid medical bills in New York. Miss it and you lose the right to sue — but several New York-specific exceptions can extend (or shorten) that window, detailed below.

New York Deadlines for Related Claims

Claim type	Deadline	Statute
Medical Debt	3 years	N.Y. CPLR § 213-D
Car Accident	3 yrs	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5)
Medical Malpractice	2 yrs	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214-a
Credit Card Debt	3 yrs	N.Y. CPLR § 214-i
Wrongful Death	2 yrs	N.Y. Est. Powers & Trusts Law (EPTL) § 5-4.1
Personal Injury	3 yrs	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5)
Dog Bite	3 yrs	CPLR § 214(5)
Slip and Fall	3 yrs	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5)
Defamation	1 yr	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 215
Breach of Contract	6 yrs	N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2)

When the Clock Starts

In New York, the limitations period for medical debt collection generally begins on Date of treatment. New York 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.

New York enacted CPLR § 213-D (effective April 17, 2020) reducing the medical debt SOL from 6 years to 3 years from date of treatment; applies to hospitals licensed under Public Health Law Art. 28 and health care professionals licensed under Education Law Title 8; collection agencies suing on assigned medical debt are bound by this 3-year period; minor tolling under CPLR § 208 — SOL tolled until infant reaches age 18, then 3-year period begins

Source: N.Y. CPLR § 213-D, official New York 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 New York 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 New York Compares to Nearby States

State	Deadline	Statute
New York	3 years	N.Y. CPLR § 213-D
New Jersey	6 yrs	N.J.S.A. § 2A:14-1
Pennsylvania	4 yrs	42 Pa. C.S. § 5525(a)
Connecticut	6 yrs	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576
Massachusetts	6 yrs	M.G.L. c. 260, § 2
Vermont	6 yrs	12 V.S.A. § 511

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You have 3 years from Date of treatment, under N.Y. CPLR § 213-D.

Can I still sue after 3 years in New York?

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?

New York 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 N.Y. CPLR § 213-D — Action on Medical Debt; Three-Year Limitation (NY Senate Official Laws)
Corroborating New York CPLR § 213-D — Medical Debt Statute of Limitations — Justia
Corroborating New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 213-D — 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 New York attorney.