Budget Organizer to Help Patients Plan for Care Costs

The Healthcare Budget Worksheet is a resource designed to help CareCredit providers assist patients and clients in understanding and planning for their healthcare expenses. It breaks down healthcare costs into four key categories: fixed, routine, unanticipated and elective expenses.

• Fixed costs. Regular, predictable expenses such as premiums, co-pays for ongoing doctor visits and maintenance prescription costs
• Routine costs. Anticipated but variable expenses like preventative care, annual checkups and diagnostic tests
• Unanticipated costs. Unexpected medical events such as emergency room visits or urgent care
• Elective costs. Planned procedures that are optional or patient-driven, like cosmetic surgery or LASIK

The worksheet helps guide patients through calculating annual and monthly averages for each category, allowing them to estimate overall healthcare spending more accurately. It also helps budget for specific planned procedures by accounting for multiple costs involved, such as diagnostics, anesthesia, medications and post-care needs.