• Nearly 14 million Americans have errors on their credit report due to medical collections, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit organization focused on health care research.

• Unnoticed credit errors, such as small, unpaid balances on medical bills, can make refinancing a mortgage difficult or, in some instances, impossible. If approved for a refinance, unpaid bills can result in the borrower paying higher closing costs.

• It is critical that consumers routinely review their credit reports to ensure the reports are accurate and up-to-date. Consumers are entitled to one free credit report annually from https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp. The report does not include the credit score; however, the score can be obtained for a small fee.

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill this fall that could provide relief for homeowners with medical-debt troubles. The Medical Debt Relief Act, which is currently in the Senate, would remove settled medical debt from credit reports after 45 days, instead of the customary seven years.