UNDUE

50-state desk · UT

Utah

Process / partial

No statewide FPL write-off floor. Utah requires a 45-day notice before a health-care debt collection that is reported to a credit bureau (Utah Code § 31A-26-313). Medicaid is expanded (with a state-specific design). Intermountain and University of Utah FAPs are the practical bands.

I.R.C. § 501(r); Utah Code § 31A-26-313 (notice before medical debt is reported) · compiled October 2026

RuleThis state
Free-care floor—
Discount / eligibility floor—
Covers insured patientsYes, if they otherwise qualify
Which hospitalsNonprofit / 501(c)(3) hospitals via federal 501(r)
Medicaid expansionYes — adults to 138% FPL
Screen before collectionsYes
Credit reportsNo state ban
Debt salesNot banned
Home liensNot banned
Wage garnishmentFederal CCPA cap (typically 25%)
Interest on medical debtNo special cap located
Collection holdNo extra state waiting period
Lawsuit clock6 years · Utah Code § 78B-2-309

2026 poverty line here

Alaska and Hawaii use their own HHS tables. Everyone else uses the 48-state and D.C. figures, effective January 2026.

Household100%Free floorDiscount floor
1$15,960——
2$21,640——
3$27,320——
4$33,000——
5$38,680——
6$44,360——

What to do

  1. 01 Utah has no write-off statute. Apply to the system FAP (Intermountain, University, Steward/other).
  2. 02 Itemize. Prompt-pay discounts are commonly posted — ask for them in writing.
  3. 03 Six-year lawsuit window.
  4. 04 If Medicaid might apply, file it. Expansion exists.

Appeals

Federal No Surprises Act.

Insurance: Utah Insurance Department — external review

Medicaid: DHHS fair hearing.

Medicare is federal regardless of state: redetermination, reconsideration, ALJ, Appeals Council, then district court.

Cite this in a letter

I request a financial-assistance determination under your FAP and, if you are a 501(c)(3) hospital organization, Internal Revenue Code section 501(r).
UT

Put a Utah bill in the machine.

The estimate will use this state’s floors. The letters will cite I.R.C. § 501(r); Utah Code § 31A-26-313 (notice before medical debt is reported).

Start a Utah case

Utah Attorney General

Federal overlay — every state

  • 501(r)

    501(c)(3) hospital organizations must publish a Financial Assistance Policy, a plain-language summary, and generally may not take extraordinary collection actions (selling the debt, reporting it, liens, lawsuits) until they have made reasonable efforts to determine FAP eligibility.

    Official source

  • No Surprises Act

    Emergency services, air ambulance, and many out-of-network clinicians at in-network facilities cannot balance-bill beyond in-network cost-sharing. Independent dispute resolution is between the plan and the provider — not a reason to pay the sticker rate.

    Official source

  • FDCPA

    15 U.S.C. § 1692g. Within 30 days of first collector contact, demand validation. Until it is validated, the collector should stop collecting. Partial payment can restart a state’s statute of limitations.

    Official source

  • EMTALA

    Emergency departments must screen and stabilize regardless of ability to pay. An ER bill is not an agreement that chargemaster rates are the cash price.

    Official source

  • Medicare appeals

    Five levels: redetermination (MAC, 120 days), reconsideration (QIC), ALJ at OMHA, Medicare Appeals Council, then federal district court. A remaining patient balance is often a claim the provider still needs to work.

    Official source

  • Credit bureaus

    The CFPB’s 2025 medical-debt reporting rule was vacated in July 2025. Industry practice still generally omits paid medical collections and unpaid balances under $500. Unpaid medical debt over $500 can appear after a delay unless a state ban applies. FCRA-preemption fights over those state bans are ongoing.

    Official source

Sources

Official government sources for the Utah information on this page. UNDUE does not represent any government entity.