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Using Credit Cards for Medical Expenses

6 min read

Published September 9, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

You may be able to get a medical credit card through your provider or from a standard credit card company.
A credit card with a low introductory annual percentage rate (APR) may not increase your medical debt if you pay down your balance before the intro period ends.
Some alternatives to a medical credit card include financial assistance, savings plans, and personal loans.

When you’re having a medical emergency, money is the last thing you want to worry about. But even if you have good health insurance, medical costs can be expensive and difficult to manage. If you’re struggling with an unexpected hospital bill, a treatment your insurance company won’t cover, or any medical expense in between, you might consider using a credit card. While a credit card may be a helpful tool for financing medical bills, it’s important to understand the risks and possible alternatives.

Can you use a credit card for medical expenses?

Yes, you may be able to use a credit card to pay for medical expenses as long as the medical provider accepts card payments.

A credit card may help you break down big medical bills to make them more manageable or cover unexpected expenses from medical emergencies. However, using a credit card for medical expenses can be risky.

Consider the following advantages and disadvantages.

Why use a credit card to cover medical expenses

Paying for your medical bills with a credit card may come with the following advantages:

Convenience. A credit card could make it easier to cover your medical expenses at your provider’s front desk or pay medical bills online.
Security. When you’re navigating health issues and sometimes complex billing processes, you may be more vulnerable to fraud. Credit cards from a major credit card company generally offer extensive fraud protection measures.
Rewards. On a rewards credit card, you may be able to earn cash back on every eligible purchase. Some credit card companies allow you to earn rewards on health care expenses from medical providers, though it’s not common. However, many card issuers offer rewards at drugstores, which may help you earn cash back on medical equipment.
Build credit history. Paying for a recurring medical expense—like a monthly copay for seeing a specialist or receiving regular medical treatment—a credit card may help you build a credit history as long as you repay your payment and/or balance each month.

Reasons not to use a credit card for medical bills

While using a credit card for medical expenses could have some benefits, there are also some downsides and risks to consider.

May be an expensive option. Compared to some other options for financing medical bills, a credit card may be costly. Some cards come with annual fees and high interest rates.
May increase debt. If you’re already having a hard time managing medical debt, a credit card may not be the best option. Unless your credit card offers a low introductory APR, your balance may accrue a high-interest charge each month until you pay it in full. Each interest charge may increase your credit card debt and make it more challenging to pay back what you owe.
May hurt your credit score. Medical bills often aren’t cheap. Using your card for an expensive medical cost may hurt your credit score by increasing your credit utilization ratio. If you fall behind on payments, your score may suffer even more. It’s vital to have a repayment plan in mind.

Types of credit cards for medical expenses

When you have a pricey medical procedure or appointment, your provider may give you information about a medical credit card to cover the costs. These products differ from standard credit cards, but you could use either to cover a medical expense. The right option depends on your needs and credit profile.

Medical credit cards

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that a medical credit card is a card that gives you access to a line of credit you can use only for medical expenses.

Your medical provider may offer to sign you up for a credit card as a payment option, especially if you’re facing a big bill. If you qualify, the credit card company pays your doctor, and you make payments to the credit card company.

Medical credit cards often offer “deferred interest”. That means your balance may not accrue any interest for the first several months your account is open. You won't owe any interest if you pay down your entire balance in that period.

However, if you still carry a balance after the intro period ends, you’ll owe interest on the full amount you initially charged—not just the remaining balance. Medical credit cards often have high interest rates, so you could end up owing a lot of money quickly.

Low or 0% APR interest cards

You could also use a standard credit card to cover medical expenses as long as the cost doesn’t exceed your credit limit.

Opening a new credit card for medical expenses might make sense if it offers a low or 0% APR introductory promotion. That means the medical expenses you’ve charged to your card should not accrue interest for a set period after account opening.

Did you know?

With a low introductory APR card from Discover^®, you may save interest on purchases and balance transfers for several months. This may help you break down unexpected expenses, like an emergency room visit, as long as you repay your full balance before the intro period ends.

Learn More

After the promotional period ends, only the remaining balance begins accruing interest at the card’s standard rate.

If you think you may have trouble paying down your balance, you should take the card’s standard APR into consideration. A high standard interest rate may leave you with a lot of debt, even if your credit card company doesn’t charge deferred interest.

You may also want to consider whether the credit card you choose could be a good fit for you after you’ve repaid your medical debt. Does it offer rewards at the places you shop or perks that align with your priorities?

Alternatives to medical credit cards

Credit cards aren’t the only tool available to help you manage your medical costs. You may also consider the following:

Employee-sponsored savings plans. Your job may offer you a flexible savings account or a health savings account as part of your benefits package. These tools may allow you to pay for medical expenses with pre-tax savings.
Financial assistance. Many hospitals and medical providers offer financial assistance programs for upcoming medical care and existing bills. It doesn’t hurt to ask for assistance before you apply for credit.
Medical financing. Some medical providers offer financing and payment plans in addition to medical credit cards.
Personal loan. Lenders may offer loans designed specifically for medical costs, but you could use a personal loan to cover medical expenses.

The bottom line

From a routine eye exam to emergency stitches, medical costs can be expensive. A credit card may help you manage the cost and get the care you need. But it’s important to understand the card’s terms and conditions and pay down your balance quickly. Otherwise, you may end up with more debt.

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