Washington state will prohibit medical debt from appearing on individual credit reports under a law signed Tuesday. Senate Bill 5480, championed by Senator Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane), bars collection agencies from reporting overdue medical bills to credit bureaus. The measure takes effect July 27.
Supporters say removing medical debt from credit checks will ease financial barriers to housing, auto loans and other essential services. Medical bills can also deter patients from seeking care or lead providers to deny treatment when balances remain unpaid.
The state law mirrors a federal rule finalized earlier this year but currently paused amid legal challenges. By contrast, Washington’s statute is set to begin within months.
Proponents highlight stories like that of 28‑year‑old Christopher Raymond of Everett. Diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma at 16, his family exhausted $60,000 in retirement savings and relocated to California for a stem cell transplant not covered by insurance. Although Medi‑Cal ultimately financed his care, Raymond’s household struggled to afford basic necessities. His treatment costs exceeded $6 million before insurance payments.
“Patients shouldn’t be penalized for having cancer,” Raymond said, recalling days when a single grocery‑store chicken leg was his only meal.
Northwest Health Law Advocates reports that six in 10 Washington adults could not pay an unexpected $500 medical bill, and nearly 30 percent carry medical debt despite insurance coverage. Audrey Miller García of the American Cancer Society notes that families can still face crushing bills—even after a patient’s death—and survivors often incur lifelong follow‑up expenses.
Raymond, now cancer‑free for a decade, still receives bills for routine scans. “You shouldn’t be punished for having cancer,” he said. “Surviving isn’t enough—you need to live.”
