US Medical Term · billing
Collections
Cobros
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Collections |
| Spanish (Español) | Cobros |
| Chinese (中文) | 债务催收 |
| Korean (한국어) | 채권 추심 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thu hồi nợ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pangongolekta ng Utang |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cobrança |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การติดตามหนี้ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 債権回収 |
What it means
Collections refers to the process of pursuing payment on an unpaid medical bill after standard billing has failed. A hospital or provider may first attempt in-house collections through billing statements, phone calls, and payment plan offers. If these efforts fail, the account may be sold to or placed with a third-party debt collection agency. Collection agencies are regulated by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which limits their contact methods and times and prohibits harassment. Unpaid medical debt sent to collections may be reported to credit bureaus and damage your credit score, though recent rule changes have begun to limit this. Before a bill goes to collections, ask about financial assistance, payment plans, and your right to dispute the debt.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My unpaid hospital bill was sent to collections after 90 days.
Mi factura hospitalaria impaga fue enviada a cobros después de 90 días.
I contacted the collections agency to dispute the amount owed.
Me comuniqué con la agencia de cobros para disputar el monto adeudado.
Ask for a payment plan before the bill goes to collections to protect your credit.
Solicite un plan de pago antes de que la factura pase a cobros para proteger su crédito.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026