Helping Patients and Clients Navigate Rising Out-of-Pocket Costs

Even patients and clients with insurance coverage can face significant out-of-pocket expenses for preventive and routine services. These recurring costs can accumulate over time, particularly across high-frequency care categories.

CareCredit’s 2026 Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenses report found that CareCredit cardholders spent an average of $3,391 on out-of-pocket health and wellness expenses over the previous 12 months.¹

The table below summarizes the share of respondents who pursued preventive, dental, primary and vision care — and, within each category, the share who reported out-of-pocket costs (commonly ranging from $491 to $1,381):¹

Out-of-pocket spending was primarily tied to services and copays, reinforcing how quickly recurring routine expenses can add up for households already managing broader economic pressures.¹

How Rising Out-of-Pocket Costs Can Affect Practices

While it’s easy to see how out-of-pocket costs can add up for a major procedure like a knee replacement or unexpected event like an emergency room visit, routine and recurring expenses can create ongoing financial strain because they occur more frequently.

For example, patients seeking primary care reported average out-of-pocket costs of $1,381 over the previous 12 months.¹ When those expenses overlap with other household costs, practices may begin to see operational impacts, including:

• Missed appointments
• Delayed payments
• Longer billing cycles
• Lower treatment plan acceptance

In Synchrony’s Healthcare Journey Research Consumers and Providers study, 70% of providers surveyed said they believe cost is a barrier to patients and clients scheduling care.²

Operational takeaway: Many practices benefit when payment discussions start earlier — before the visit or procedure — so patients and clients can plan can choose the best path forward.

What Patients and Clients Want From Cost Conversations

Patients and clients increasingly expect clear, up-front conversations about pricing and payment options — whether they are scheduling a routine visit or considering a larger procedure. They also want flexibility when paying for services that may not be fully covered by insurance, especially when routine expenses begin to accumulate across multiple visits or care categories.

To reduce uncertainty and avoid billing surprises, practices can standardize a workflow that helps staff consistently cover:

• Estimated costs (and what may not be covered)
• Payment options (including pay-over-time solutions)
• Billing timing (when payments are due and what happens after the visit)

Research also suggests that financing availability can influence provider selection. In Synchrony’s study, nearly 60% of patients surveyed said that having flexible financing options helped them choose one provider over another.²

How CareCredit Financing Can Help

When patients and clients are weighing routine or recurring expenses, cost uncertainty can delay decisions. A financing option like the CareCredit credit card gives practices a concrete resource to introduce during those conversations — especially when services are not fully covered by insurance or when multiple care needs arise close together.

The CareCredit credit card is designed specifically for health and wellness expenses and can be used for a wide range of services, including dental care, vision care, veterinary care and other routine or recurring costs. Cardholders can use CareCredit to pay over time for qualifying expenses.

CareCredit is accepted at more than 290,000 provider and retail locations nationwide, and patients and clients can use the card multiple times for themselves, family members and pets. Patients and clients can also see if they prequalify without impacting their credit score.

Benefits for providers

Offering CareCredit can help support smooth financial conversations at the point of care and reduce barriers to moving forward with recommended treatment. It can also help practices:

• Support larger or phased treatment needs when multiple services occur close together or when care is needed sooner than expected
• Improve the patient/client experience by offering a payment solution designed for health and wellness expenses.
• Reduce reliance on in-house payment arrangements and associated follow-up

How to Introduce Financing Options (4 Practical Ways)

Providing care, whether it’s vision care, dental care, preventive care, veterinary care or primary care, is what practices do best. Talking about financing may be less familiar. A consistent and compassionate approach across front-office, billing and financial staff can help these conversations feel more natural and supportive.

Here are four practical ways practices can incorporate affordability conversations into day-to-day operations:

1. Lead with empathy and clarity
   Affordability concerns can affect patients and clients across income levels and life stages. Clear, respectful conversations can help reduce discomfort around financial discussions.
2. Discuss costs and financing options early
   Share estimated costs and payment information before appointments or procedures. Early conversations can help reduce surprises and give patients and clients time to review options.
3. Make financing information easy to find
   Reinforce affordability messaging with CareCredit materials in-office and across digital channels, including your website, newsletters and social media.
4. Train staff for consistency
   Staff education around financing solutions and cost conversations can help create a more consistent experience and reduce confusion at checkout.

Clear Communication Supports Better Care Access and Smooth Payments

Routine health and wellness expenses can add up quickly as patients and clients manage recurring visits, copays and services that may not be fully covered by insurance. For practices, those pressures can affect scheduling, payment timelines and treatment acceptance.

By improving cost transparency, introducing payment discussions earlier and offering solutions designed for out-of-pocket expenses, practices can help patients and clients feel more prepared to move forward with care – while reducing friction in the payment process.

FAQs About Patient Financing Options for Rising Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs

Have more questions about helping patients and clients manage rising out-of-pocket expenses, and how financing options like CareCredit can help your practice maintain consistent payment timelines?

What out-of-pocket healthcare costs are patients facing, and how is that impacting routine care?

In CareCredit’s 2026 Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Expenses report, cardholders spent an average of $3,391 on out-of-pocket health and wellness expenses over the prior 12 months. Many reported out-of-pocket costs in categories like preventive, dental, primary and vision care. Rising out-of-pocket costs are making routine services harder to afford, even for insured patients. For providers, this can show up as missed appointments, delayed payments, longer billing cycles and lower treatment plan acceptance.

When should a practice talk about pricing and payment options with patients/clients?

As early as possible — ideally before the appointment or procedure. Up-front cost conversations help reduce billing surprises and give patients time to evaluate options. Many practices benefit from standardizing a workflow so front-desk and financial staff can consistently explain estimated costs, insurance limitations and available financing or payment paths.

What is CareCredit and how can it benefit my practice?

CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that helps patients pay over time for out-of-pocket services. For providers, it can support treatment acceptance by giving patients a financing option at the point of care, and practices are paid directly within two business days. CareCredit is accepted at 290,000 provider and retail locations nationwide and can be used for a wide range of services, including dental, vision, primary care, veterinary care and other routine or recurring expenses.

How can offering financing help a practice attract and retain patients while improving payment timelines?

Flexible financing can make it easier for patients to proceed with recommended care, especially when services aren’t fully covered by insurance or costs add up across multiple visits. Research cited in the article indicates that nearly 60% of patients say financing options influenced their choice of provider. For practices, financing can support more predictable payments and reduce friction tied to collections and extended billing cycles.

A Patient Financing Solution for Health and Wellness Providers

If you are looking for a way to connect your patients with flexible financing that empowers them to pay for the care they want and need, consider offering the CareCredit credit card as a patient 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 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, your practice or business will be paid directly within two business days.

Learn more about the CareCredit credit card as a patient financing solution, or start the provider enrollment process by filling out this form.

Author Bio

Michelle Seitzer is a freelance writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience working for top brands and publications on healthcare, finance and retirement topics. She has written for ADHD Online, First Horizon Bank, The Hartford Extra Mile and more.

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