When does an unpaid medical bill start to have a negative effect on your credit rating?

Typically, an unpaid medical bill will start to have a negative effect on your credit rating after about 180 days (6 months) of nonpayment. This is because unpaid medical bills are often reported to credit bureaus by the healthcare providers or collection agencies that are attempting to collect the debt. If you are unable to pay a medical bill, it is important to contact the healthcare provider or collection agency as soon as possible to discuss your options for payment. You may be able to negotiate a payment plan or make other arrangements to prevent the debt from being reported to the credit bureaus.