Sarasota Memorial Medical Debt Settlement (Florida) 2026

Florida hospital medical bill statement for past-due emergency care

Published: June 17, 2026

Status Claims Open

Claim Deadline July 10, 2026

Estimated Payout Up to $1,000 Pro rata share of a $200,000 fund · $1,000 each if fewer than 200 valid claims are filed

Proof Required Yes Last name + Notice ID from the mailed settlement notice required to file

What Is This Settlement About?

Sarasota County Public Hospital District, which does business as Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMHCS), has agreed to a class action settlement resolving claims about how it billed and collected past-due emergency medical debt tied to automobile-accident injuries. The underlying lawsuit, captioned Daugherty v. Sarasota County Public Hospital District, alleged that the District's billing practices and collection letters — seeking balances that may have exceeded the amount allowed under Florida's personal injury protection (PIP) coverage limits — violated Section 559.72(9) of the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA).

The parties reached the agreement after a mediation conference held on December 20, 2025. Under its terms, the District will establish a $200,000 settlement fund for eligible Florida class members and has agreed not to send billing or collection communications demanding a balance unless a contract or a specific Florida law permits collecting it. SMHCS denies that its collection attempts violated the FCCPA and maintains it did nothing wrongful or unlawful; it agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation. The settlement remains subject to final court approval.

Who Qualifies?

The settlement class is defined narrowly. You are a class member if you meet all of the following:

You are a consumer-patient who resided in Florida at any point from June 7, 2017 through May 6, 2026;
SMHCS mailed you a billing letter seeking payment for emergency medical services where the injuries were caused by or related to an automobile accident;
You had an active automobile insurance policy at the time of the accident; and
The letter sought a balance in excess of the amount allowed under Florida law.

If you received the mailed notice, it is because you are believed to meet these criteria. Review the official notice and settlement website to confirm your eligibility before filing.

How Much Can You Get?

The settlement administrator will divide the $200,000 fund among all class members who submit valid and timely claims, up to a maximum of $1,000 per person. If fewer than 200 valid claims are filed, each claimant receives the full $1,000. If more than 200 valid claims come in, the fund is split equally among the claimants, so the per-person payment drops below $1,000 as participation rises.

Any money left in the fund after distribution — for example, from settlement checks that go uncashed after the cashing period ends — is directed to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation as a cy pres recipient rather than reverting to the hospital district.

How to File a Claim

There are two ways to submit a claim before the July 10, 2026 deadline:

Online: File through the official settlement website. The online claim form asks for your last name and the Notice ID printed on the notice that was mailed to you.
By mail: Complete the paper claim form included with your mailed notice and return it to the settlement administrator at the address printed on the form.

Because the online claim is gated on an administrator-issued Notice ID, this settlement is proof-required — even though no receipts or out-of-pocket documentation are needed. If you believe you are a class member but did not receive a notice or have misplaced your Notice ID, use the contact form on the official settlement website to request help; do not rely on a guessed code.

If you lived in Florida and received emergency care from Sarasota Memorial, you may also want to review our explainer on how pro rata settlement payments are calculated, since the per-person amount here depends on how many people file.

Key Deadlines

Claim Deadline: July 10, 2026 (postmarked or submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST)
Exclusion (Opt-Out) Deadline: June 25, 2026 (postmarked)
Objection Deadline: June 25, 2026 (postmarked)
Final Approval Hearing: July 29, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
Class Period: June 7, 2017 – May 6, 2026

Class members who do nothing will not receive a payment — a valid claim must be filed to share in the fund. Filing a claim does not waive, forgive, or release any underlying medical debt you may still owe SMHCS.

Avoid Settlement Scams

Legitimate settlement administrators never ask you to pay a fee to receive a class action payment, and they will not ask for your full Social Security number or banking login over the phone or by email. File only through the official settlement website linked on this page, and ignore any message demanding payment or sensitive information to "release" your settlement money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Sarasota Memorial medical debt settlement?

Florida consumer-patients who, between June 7, 2017 and May 6, 2026, were mailed a Sarasota Memorial Health Care System billing letter seeking payment for emergency medical services tied to an automobile-accident injury — where they had active auto insurance and the letter sought a balance exceeding the amount allowed under Florida law — may be eligible to file a claim.

How much can class members receive?

Each valid claimant receives a pro rata share of the $200,000 settlement fund, capped at $1,000 per person. If fewer than 200 valid claims are filed, each claimant receives $1,000; if more than 200 are filed, the fund is divided equally and the per-person amount is lower.

Do I need proof to file a claim?

Yes. To file online you must enter your last name and the Notice ID printed on the settlement notice mailed to you. Because filing is gated on an administrator-issued Notice ID, this settlement counts as proof-required even though no receipts or out-of-pocket documentation are needed.

What is the claim deadline?

The deadline to submit a claim is July 10, 2026. Claims can be filed online or by mailing the paper claim form included with the notice.

Sources

Official Settlement Website — FL Daugherty Class Settlement
Daugherty v. Sarasota County Public Hospital District, Case No. 2019-CA-003178-NC, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Sarasota County, Florida