How to Add Patient Financing to Your Practice in 6 Simple Steps

Out-of-pocket health and wellness costs can be challenging for patients and clients on tight budgets and can sometimes create a barrier to care. About 3 in 10 U.S. adults surveyed by KFF said they or a family member in their household had problems paying for healthcare in the past 12 months.¹

To make care more accessible, many health and wellness providers offer a variety of payment options, including patient financing. Adding this feature to your practice can benefit both you and your patients or clients. Learn how to get started in a few simple steps.

What Is Patient Financing (and Why Do Patients Ask for It)?

Patient financing is usually a type of loan or revolving credit, like the CareCredit health and wellness credit card, that allows patients to pay for their care over time rather than all at once. Synchrony Pay Monthly is another option for eligible patients and clients who prefer a fixed monthly payment over a set term. Having this type of flexibility can help patients and clients move forward with recommended treatments or services that they otherwise may have trouble affording.

Benefits for practices

Practices that offer patient financing could make care more accessible to a wider range of patients and clients. In fact, nearly 6 in 10 patients surveyed in Synchrony’s Healthcare Journey Research Consumers and Providers study said the availability of payment options, including flexible financing, may encourage them to choose one provider over others that lack options.²

Considering that 70% of providers in the same study believe cost is a barrier to patients scheduling care, giving patients more financing options may help.²

• Improve treatment acceptance and support elective/ongoing care. Being able to space out payments with a financing solution can help patients and clients manage out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance and say yes to care.
• Smooth revenue cycle management. Financing can help you get paid for services up front and reduce outstanding collections on your books. (Providers in the CareCredit network are paid in two business days.)

Benefits for patients

Delaying or declining health and wellness care because of cost can be frustrating for patients and clients. However, patient financing could do the following:

• Alleviate some of the stress over care affordability. In Synchrony’s report, 50% of patients reported feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, annoyance or frustration related to out-of-pocket health and wellness expenses.²
• Create a financial pathway to get the care they want or need. According to Synchrony’s report, 3 out of 4 patients said they would seek more services for health and wellness care if they had ways to pay for them.²

Why Add CareCredit for Patient Financing?

Building patient trust is a key aspect of practice growth and success, which is why choosing a reliable partner to facilitate patient financing is important. CareCredit is well known; 1 in 10 U.S. adult residents have or have had a CareCredit credit card With its large base of more than 12 million cardholders, many of your patients or clients may already have a CareCredit account. ³

CareCredit also has a large nationwide provider network of more than 290,000 enrolled locations, including providers and retailers. It is a recognizable and reputable brand among providers as well. As a longtime industry leader, CareCredit has built an extensive library of resources for providers while offering hands-on customer support.

How to Add Patient Financing: Step by Step

Adding patient financing to your practice doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right partner and a clear plan, you can build financing into your workflow in just a few steps.

Step 1: Set your goals and decide where patient financing fits

If your goal is to attract and retain more patients or clients, financing can help make both initial treatments and ongoing care more accessible. It may also encourage repeat visits — 45% of CareCredit cardholders reused their card at the same practices within a year.

Furthermore, patient financing can help support your revenue cycle. With financing, you can get paid up front more often and reduce the need for collections.

Step 2: Choose a trusted patient financing partner

To select the right patient financing solution for your practice, look for partners with the following attributes:

• Brand trust and patient familiarity. A well-known financing option can help increase patient and client confidence and reduce friction during financial conversations.
• Provider network credibility. A large, established network signals reliability and experience within your industry.
• Patient and client accessibility. A solution with a broad cardholder base means more patients and clients can use it right away, reducing friction and helping them move forward with care.
• Workflow and integration. Financing should integrate smoothly into your existing systems and processes without adding administrative burden.
• Provider support and marketing resources. Strong partners offer training, onboarding support and ready-to-use marketing materials to help you promote financing effectively.

CareCredit checks all the boxes as a trusted brand for over 35 years.

Step 3: Complete enrollment and get your practice set up

To get started, you’ll complete an application with basic information about your practice, including key contacts and the team members you want to have access to the account. Once it’s submitted, your financing partner will guide you through onboarding and help get your account set up.

Step 4: Add CareCredit into your workflow and practice software

Once you’ve enrolled, your support person will guide you through how to incorporate CareCredit into your existing workflow, whether that’s at the front desk, during treatment coordination or at checkout — and if applicable, discuss optional practice software integration.

Step 5: Train your team to present patient financing confidently

Having a team that’s comfortable discussing financing options with clarity and empathy is key. Training should focus on using simple, consistent language and introducing financing as a normal part of the payment conversation.

Providing your team with scripts and frameworks is an effective way to standardize conversations and build confidence so patients and clients feel supported. For example, staff might say:

“Here are the payment options available, including financing that allows you to pay over time.”

You may also want to define roles across your team — such as having treatment coordinators introduce financing during care discussions and billing staff handle follow-up questions and documentation.

CareCredit offers resources and training tools, including sample scripts to help get your team up to speed.

Step 6: Promote patient financing with CareCredit marketing tools

Patients and clients might be hesitant to make a financial decision on the spot. Reinforcing messaging about financing before appointments, around the office and online can help create awareness so they can make an educated decision.

• In-practice. Place counter cards, posters and exam-room collateral around the office to educate and prompt patient and client interest. Enrolled CareCredit providers can even request signage with custom QR codes and links to help facilitate financing.
• Online.Adding banners and buttons to your “Payments/Financing” page gives patients and clients an easy way to directly apply for CareCredit or pay online. Plus, making your financing options visible on social media, in emails and on other digital channels may encourage new patients with cost concerns to call for an appointment.

Tip: CareCredit provides ready-to-use marketing materials.

Best Practices to Make Patient Financing Feel Seamless (Quick Wins)

Once patient financing is in place, small adjustments to how and when you present it can make a big difference in patient adoption and overall experience.

• Have the financing conversation early and often. You shouldn’t wait until cost becomes a barrier to bring up financing. Instead, introduce it during various touchpoints, including during the initial call, the appointment reminder call, at check-in and before the patient or client leaves.
• Present patient financing as one of several standard payment options. Patients’ financial situations are all different, so going over payment choices carefully with them can help them choose the best approach for their needs and budget.
• Use consistent language across the team. Train your staff to speak about financing in the same way, using simple language and avoiding confusing healthcare jargon.

FAQs About Adding Patient Financing (CareCredit)

Do you still have questions about patient financing? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

Is patient financing the same as a payment plan, and which is best for my practice?

Not exactly. Payment plans are typically managed in-house (you bill the patient over time), which can increase follow-up and collections work. Patient financing is offered through a third party, allowing eligible patients to pay over time while helping the practice receive payment up front, often reducing accounts receivable and administrative burden. The best fit depends on your goals (e.g., minimizing collections, improving treatment acceptance, simplifying checkout).

Will offering patient financing cost my practice anything or change how/when I get paid?

Patient financing is designed to help you get paid promptly while giving patients the option to pay over time. CareCredit providers are paid directly — typically within two business days — helping reduce balances that might otherwise go to statements or collections. (Any program fees or terms should be reviewed during enrollment.)

How long does it take to add CareCredit patient financing to a practice?

Adding CareCredit to your practice is a simple process, and you will be guided the whole way. Start by filling out an online form, which takes just a few minutes. A CareCredit team member will get in touch soon after with next steps, including how CareCredit can easily be built into your software.

What marketing materials are available to providers?

CareCredit offers providers marketing materials including a welcome kit mailed to your practice with custom signage (with unique QR codes), plus online images, ready-to-use digital and social media assets, website copy and more.

Does CareCredit work with practice software?

CareCredit can be built into many leading practice management software platforms.

Add Patient Financing With CareCredit

Adding CareCredit as a patient financing option is a seamless process. Once you set your goals and familiarize yourself with CareCredit, you can enroll online, build it into your workflow and system, train your team on how to share the news with patients and start promoting it in-practice and online.

Offer Flexible Financing at Your Practice

If you are looking for a way to connect your patients or clients with flexible financing that empowers them to pay for the care they want and need, consider offering the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution. CareCredit allows cardholders to pay for out-of-pocket health and wellness expenses over time while helping enhance the payments process for your practice or business.

When you accept CareCredit, patients or clients can see if they prequalify with no impact to their credit score, and those who apply, if approved, can take advantage of special financing on qualifying purchases.* Additionally, you will be paid directly within two business days. Learn more about the CareCredit credit card as a financing solution or start the provider enrollment process by filling out this form.

Author Bio

Dawn Papandrea is a journalist with more than two decades of experience covering personal finance and consumer issues. She has written for leading financial publications and organizations, including U.S. News & World Report, Investopedia, BankRate and others.

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