Can a collection agency recover a medical debt incurred while a minor? My mother took me to hospital when age 17 and was unable to pay the bill. Now, at age 20, my credit report shows an unpaid medical expense for this hospital visit.
While most creditors cannot enforce debts by minors, medical bills are often the exception. Some states have "necessaries statutes" that allow minors to be held responsible for medical bills incurred for necessary treatment. In addition, under some state laws parents can be held responsible for their minor children's medical debts. It's essential that you talk with a consumer attorney to find out your rights, as well as your child's.
