What happens if I choose not to pay a $600 bill?

[Anonymous]

I believe that a medical facility is engaging in fraudulent charges but after many phone calls, I owe them $600. I can “afford” to pay them but don’t want considering they already got thousands from insurance for a service received. I already have a mortgage and excellent credit. I don’t want my credit to tank because of this but I’m 45 and have decades of great credit in my portfolio. If I let this bill linger and never pay, how much could this affect my finances?

[Anonymous]

you're 45 and not a toddler, why risk your credit for a measley $600?

[Anonymous]

You could have the debt reported to the credit bureaus, which will likely lower your score.

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections

I don't know how much it would push your score down, that information is seemingly impossible to find. It's possible they won't report it, and if it was lowered under $500, they can't report it.

A lower score possibly could affect your insurance rate, or ability to get a new car loan, for instance. But say a 20-30 point drop is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Something over a 50 point drop could have those affects, but again not sure how much that unpaid debt would affect your score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you're 45 and not a toddler, why risk your credit for a measley $600?

Measely? Oh brother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could have the debt reported to the credit bureaus, which will likely lower your score.

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections

I don't know how much it would push your score down, that information is seemingly impossible to find. It's possible they won't report it, and if it was lowered under $500, they can't report it.

A lower score possibly could affect your insurance rate, or ability to get a new car loan, for instance. But say a 20-30 point drop is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Something over a 50 point drop could have those affects, but again not sure how much that unpaid debt would affect your score.

+1 I get that OP doesn't want to pay the bill because the costs are excessive, but that's the unfortunate nature of American healthcare, and harming your credit rating because you feel a bill is unfair is short-sighted in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe that a medical facility is engaging in fraudulent charges but after many phone calls, I owe them $600. I can “afford” to pay them but don’t want considering they already got thousands from insurance for a service received. I already have a mortgage and excellent credit. I don’t want my credit to tank because of this but I’m 45 and have decades of great credit in my portfolio. If I let this bill linger and never pay, how much could this affect my finances?

If you suspect fraud, you can report the facility.

But if you are just pissed off that they're getting so much money from all corners, not paying $600 and ruining your credit to prove a point is pretty much the definition of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could have the debt reported to the credit bureaus, which will likely lower your score.

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections

I don't know how much it would push your score down, that information is seemingly impossible to find. It's possible they won't report it, and if it was lowered under $500, they can't report it.

A lower score possibly could affect your insurance rate, or ability to get a new car loan, for instance. But say a 20-30 point drop is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Something over a 50 point drop could have those affects, but again not sure how much that unpaid debt would affect your score.

+1 I get that OP doesn't want to pay the bill because the costs are excessive, but that's the unfortunate nature of American healthcare, and harming your credit rating because you feel a bill is unfair is short-sighted in my opinion.

All true, but I mean...If you don't plan to buy a home/car/do anything that requires a credit check for the next few years, I don't think it will matter that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could have the debt reported to the credit bureaus, which will likely lower your score.

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections

I don't know how much it would push your score down, that information is seemingly impossible to find. It's possible they won't report it, and if it was lowered under $500, they can't report it.

A lower score possibly could affect your insurance rate, or ability to get a new car loan, for instance. But say a 20-30 point drop is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Something over a 50 point drop could have those affects, but again not sure how much that unpaid debt would affect your score.

That’s right. Med debt under $500 or less than 1 year delinquent is not reported. So you can pay $100 if you want to avoid reporting. Or why not negotiate it down to $100?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could have the debt reported to the credit bureaus, which will likely lower your score.

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections

I don't know how much it would push your score down, that information is seemingly impossible to find. It's possible they won't report it, and if it was lowered under $500, they can't report it.

A lower score possibly could affect your insurance rate, or ability to get a new car loan, for instance. But say a 20-30 point drop is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Something over a 50 point drop could have those affects, but again not sure how much that unpaid debt would affect your score.

That’s right. Med debt under $500 or less than 1 year delinquent is not reported. So you can pay $100 if you want to avoid reporting. Or why not negotiate it down to $100?

Pay $101 and be done with it

[Anonymous]

They could sue you and then at some other point you may have to disclose if there are any lawsuits against you. Also, they may sic their collection agency on you with disturbing phone calls.

[Anonymous]

how can anyone be this dumb? yeah, don't pay it op. stand your ground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could have the debt reported to the credit bureaus, which will likely lower your score.

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections

I don't know how much it would push your score down, that information is seemingly impossible to find. It's possible they won't report it, and if it was lowered under $500, they can't report it.

A lower score possibly could affect your insurance rate, or ability to get a new car loan, for instance. But say a 20-30 point drop is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Something over a 50 point drop could have those affects, but again not sure how much that unpaid debt would affect your score.

That’s right. Med debt under $500 or less than 1 year delinquent is not reported. So you can pay $100 if you want to avoid reporting. Or why not negotiate it down to $100?

No longer true. Thanks, Trump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could have the debt reported to the credit bureaus, which will likely lower your score.

https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections

I don't know how much it would push your score down, that information is seemingly impossible to find. It's possible they won't report it, and if it was lowered under $500, they can't report it.

A lower score possibly could affect your insurance rate, or ability to get a new car loan, for instance. But say a 20-30 point drop is unlikely to have a meaningful impact. Something over a 50 point drop could have those affects, but again not sure how much that unpaid debt would affect your score.

That’s right. Med debt under $500 or less than 1 year delinquent is not reported. So you can pay $100 if you want to avoid reporting. Or why not negotiate it down to $100?

No longer true. Thanks, Trump.

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/15/nx-s1-5468438/medical-debt-credit-reports-ruling

[Anonymous]

You fought the good fight, but you fell short. That’s life. Pay the bill.

[Anonymous]

I accepted the service but don’t feel like paying because I think it costs too much. I hope your provider drops you.