 TITLE: Can I Get a Loan to Pay Off Medical Debt? CONTENT: How Medical Debt Affects Your Credit\n------------------------------------\nNormally, medical debt and the payments you make on that debt aren't included on your credit report the way your credit card, car loan or mortgage payments are. Even if the medical provider's internal collection department starts calling you, the debt still won't show up on your credit report. Where you can get into trouble is if the medical provider sells your debt to a third-party collection agency.\nIf you don't pay your medical debt and it ends up being sent to a collection agency, you have a 180-day grace period before the medical collection account shows up on your credit report. The grace period gives you a chance to contact the doctor or hospital and create a plan for paying off the debt. END