The statute of limitations on medical debt varies from state to state, but collectors can't sue debtors once the statute of limitations has expired. If the collection agency isn't able to provide a hard copy of the original invoice for the charges owed, they don't have legitimate authority to collect on the debt.It's illegal for debt collectors to contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., and violations can be reported to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Burns explains why it's important to answer the phone when collectors call, and why it can pay to be nice. In her most popular TikTok, Burns notes that it's within your rights to ask for an itemized list of charges incurred during a hospital stay. While it's best to defer to medical professionals' judgement about what treatments are best, you can avoid extra costs in an emergency room situation by declining procedures that you know you don't need, like a pregnancy test.