Best Credit Cards for Medical Expenses

Healthcare costs can be shockingly high, even for those with insurance. For 2025 HealthCare.gov Marketplace plans, the out-of-pocket maximum is $9,200 for individuals. That can be a lot of money for an insured person, and for people without insurance, costs can be exorbitant.

If you can’t cover medical expenses with a health savings account, flexible spending account or your personal savings, you might consider a credit card. For example, a credit card with a zero interest APR offer on purchases could help you spread costs over time.

However, charging medical expenses to a credit card may be financially risky. Interest charges can quickly add up, and you might be able to find other financing options that suit you better. But if you’re confident you can pay off a credit card balance before interest starts accruing, you could enjoy added benefits from some credit cards, such as rewards.

Discover some of the best credit cards for medical expenses and what factors to consider in choosing a card that works for you.

Top cards for medical expenses

Best for drugstore purchases

Cardholder rating

4.3

Bankrate score

4.6

Bankrate review

Bankrate review

Recommended credit score:670 – 850

Apply now

on Chase‘s secure site

See Rates & Fees

18.99% – 28.49% Variable

Reward Details

• 5%Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more.
• 3%3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service.
• 1.5%1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Bankrate’s view

For those with recurring prescription or medical device expenses, the main draw is the 3 percent back on drugstore purchases — a bonus category you won’t find on many cards. On top of that, if you have a stack of medical bills to pay and you want to maximize this spending to earn rewards while avoiding interest payments for a time, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth a look. 

Pros

• This card has terrific first-year value with an attainable welcome offer.
• With this card’s decent intro APR offer on purchases, you can pay off large medical bills with more ease.

Cons

• The ongoing APR can be relatively high, so you’ll want to pay off any medical expenses (or come close to it) before the intro APR offer ends to avoid medical debt.
• You could get hit with a high penalty APR if you make a late payment, which could last indefinitely.

Card Details

• Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

• Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.

• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!

• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% – 28.49%.

• No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card

• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.

• Member FDIC

17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR

Bankrate’s view

If rewards are not a priority and you just want to avoid interest for as long as you can, the Wells Fargo Reflect Card might be the ideal pick. This card features one of the lengthiest intro APR offers on the market, giving you a considerable stretch of time to help with ongoing or unexpected medical costs.

Pros

• Depending on your creditworthiness, you could qualify for a relatively low APR if you need extra time to pay off your balance.
• This card comes with decent perks for a no-annual-fee card, like cell phone protection, Roadside Dispatch® and My Wells Fargo Deals.

Cons

• With no consistent rewards program, this card has little long-term value.
• The balance transfer fee is on the higher end at 5 percent (minimum $5), which could affect your potential savings.

Card Details

• Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.

• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.

• $0 annual fee.

• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

• Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It’s an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.

Best for general medical expenses

AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays

Bankrate score

3.0

Bankrate review

Bankrate review

20.99% – 29.99% Variable

Reward Details

• 3%Earn unlimited 3% cash back on Gas and Drug Store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®)
• 2%Earn unlimited 2% cash back on eligible Medical expenses (like purchases at doctors, dentists, chiropractors, glasses, hearing aids and more)
• 1%Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases

Bankrate’s view

The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays is one of the only cards that includes medical expenses as a bonus category. You can earn 3 percent back on gas station and drugstore purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 2 percent cash back on other eligible medical expenses and 1 percent back on all other purchases.
This no-annual-fee card also offers a terrific intro APR offer on balance transfers, so it’s a solid card if you need to consolidate medical debt.

Pros

• This card’s medical bonus category covers a wide range, including purchases made with dentists, ambulance services and medical/dental labs (as classified by merchant category codes).
• With fraud liability protection and complimentary online access to your credit score, you can stay on top of medical fraud and your credit.

Cons

• Since this card does not offer an intro APR offer on new purchases, it might not be the best option for managing upcoming medical expenses.
• This card has a relatively high APR, so you should pay your balance in full each billing cycle to avoid credit card debt.

19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Reward Details

• 2%Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Bankrate’s view

If you are looking to turn medical bills into cash rewards with no hassle, the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card could fit the bill. Cardholders earn one of the highest flat rates on purchases at 2 percent with this card. Coupled with intro APR offers on both purchases and balance transfers, the Active Cash card could make a great everyday rewards card, especially if you have ongoing medical expenses.

Pros

• You can enjoy a lucrative rewards rate on all eligible purchases without tracking bonus categories.
• The intro APR offer for balance transfers gives you 120 days from account opening to transfer your debt and qualify for the intro rate — longer than most competitor cards.

Cons

• This card charges a foreign currency conversion fee, making it less ideal if you need to travel abroad for medical reasons.
• For attractive perks like travel protection or annual statement credits, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Card Details

• Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.

• Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

• Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

• 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.

• $0 annual fee.

• No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.

• Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.

• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.

Best for consolidating medical debt

Bankrate score

4.2

Bankrate review

Bankrate review

17.74% – 28.74% Variable

Reward Details

• 4%4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center when you use your card.

Bankrate’s view

You can also consider the no-annual-fee U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card if you have a lot of medical debt on other credit cards and need to consolidate and pay it down. You can avoid interest on balance transfers and new purchases for a considerable amount of time. You can also enjoy cell phone protection (up to two $600 claims per 12-month period when you pay your monthly phone bill with your card, with a $25 deductible) and, if eligible, choose your automatic payment due date.

Pros

• You may be eligible for alternative pay-over-time options, such as the U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan.
• You can check your credit score anytime for free (enrollment required).

Cons

• This card only features travel rewards, so you won’t earn rewards for ongoing medical expenses.
• While you can take advantage of benefits like cell phone protection, overall the perks are minimal.

Best for Walgreens and Duane Reed purchases

Cardholder rating

4.0

Bankrate score

4.0

Bankrate review

Bankrate review

Recommended credit score:670 – 850

Apply now

on Bilt‘s secure site

See Rates & Fees

Reward Details

• 3X Points3x points on dining
• 2X Points2x points on travel
• 1X Points1x points on other purchases
• 1X PointsEarn 1x points on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. When you use the card 5 times each statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.

Bankrate’s view

Bilt’s partnership with Walgreens offers flexibility and great rewards. You can earn Bilt rewards even without a Bilt card as long as the card (terms apply) is linked to your Bilt Rewards account. On top of that, if you link your Flexible or Health Savings Account to your Bilt account, Bilt will help identify which items you purchase at Walgreens are eligible for reimbursement. 

Pros

• You can ensure that items you purchase at Walgreens are FSA/HSA eligible, making reimbursement less of a hassle.
• It’s one of the few cards where you can earn bonus points on pharmacy refills (terms apply).

Cons

• You won’t earn points if you are covered by Medicare or any other healthcare program funded in whole or in part by the federal government.
• This card caps the rewards you earn on prescription refills to 25 transactions, so you might earn better rewards with another card without a limit.

Card Details

• $0 Annual Fee

• Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year

• Earns 3x points on dining

• Earn 2x points on travel

• Earn 1x points on other purchases

• Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)

• Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points

• Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card

• Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, credit card statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.

• Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

Best for earning rewards on medical costs

Bankrate score

3.3

Bankrate review

Bankrate review

Recommended credit score:580 – 740

Reward Details

• 3%3% unlimited cash back on every purchase in Home, Health, and Auto categories

Bankrate’s view

With the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa® card, you can earn top rewards for health expenses, such as purchases at drugstores and pharmacies, medical and dental labs, and optometrist and ophthalmologist offices. However, you’ll need to pay your balance in full to earn these rewards. Also, this card doesn’t offer an introductory zero-interest period, but if you qualify for the lower end of its APR range then you could avoid hefty interest charges.

Pros

• This card’s health bonus category is versatile, including health and beauty spas, bicycle shops, sporting goods stores and public golf courses.
• With a potentially low APR, you could save a lot on interest — helping you to manage ongoing medical costs.

Cons

• Since this card does not have an introductory APR offer, it might not be the best option to consolidate medical debt.
• Rewards are earned by paying off the balance in full, so if you are only making minimum payments, you won’t see any rewards.

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Comparing the best cards for medical expenses

Cards for medical expenses typically require a good-to-excellent credit score. If you have bad or fair credit, consider our top picks for low interest and zero-interest cards for bad credit.

How to choose the best card to pay for medical expenses

If you plan to charge medical expenses to a credit card, asking yourself these questions could help you decide which card best matches your needs.

How much debt do I need to pay off?

Spend some time figuring out how much you’ll owe in medical bills when all is said and done. If your medical debt is manageable, a card that offers rewards and a shorter 0 percent APR intro offer may be a good option.

If it’s a hefty sum, consider credit cards with longer 0 percent APR intro offers even if they don’t have rewards.

Do I want to earn rewards?

Some cards for medical expenses offer rewards for every dollar you spend, but not everyone needs a rewards card, especially if you are working to decrease spending and pay off debt. Cash back credit cards can entice you to spend more since you know you’re getting something in return.

If you need to lower your medical debt, you should consider a rewards credit card only if you’re also taking advantage of the card’s intro APR offers and if you can pay your medical balance off before the introductory APR offer ends.

What kind of intro APR offer do I prefer?

Compare introductory APR offers so you know what you’re getting. Some cards offer 0 percent intro APR only on balance transfers, and these cards may charge interest on any new purchases if you carry a balance (including from a balance transfer). Other cards extend zero interest to both purchases and balance transfers for a limited time. Decide which intro offer will meet your needs best.

Expert tips on paying medical expenses with a credit card

Before you decide to put your medical bills on a credit card, consider these expert tips and make a plan for managing your medical costs.

Choose a zero-interest card over a deferred interest card, if possible

You may want to watch out for deferred interest offers. A deferred interest card will still accumulate interest during the introductory or promotional period but you won’t be charged until the offer ends. If you still owe a balance, you will be responsible for paying back the interest that accumulated during the offer period plus the ongoing new interest charges. So if you are unable to pay the balance in full, a deferred interest card can actually increase your medical debt.

On the other hand, a zero-interest credit card will not accrue any interest during its introductory offer period. If you have a balance when the period ends, you will then be charged interest, but there is no additional back interest to worry about.

Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between a deferred interest card and zero interest card. Read the fine print of any card you’re considering that has an introductory offer so you can take care to meet the requirements and avoid falling into a deferred interest trap.

Consider all your options

While using a credit card to cover medical costs can be helpful, it can also be risky since you might be charged a high interest rate if you can’t pay your balance in full.

Instead, you might look into other financing options to pay down your medical debt like getting a line of credit, personal loans or medical loans. Many medical providers also offer their own low-interest or zero-interest payment plans. Additionally, you can contact your provider’s medical billing office to find out about federal and local organizations that offer financial assistance.

Pay your balance in full

No matter the type of card, it’s best to pay your balance in full to avoid interest charges. Once you start accruing interest, your medical debt can balloon quickly. On top of being a source of stress, significant debt can have a negative impact on your credit score. Take advantage of zero interest intro offers so you can clear your medical expenses interest-free.

What next?

The bottom line

Looming medical costs can become a financial burden. However, strategically using credit cards for medical expenses can help manage upcoming bills or prior medical debt. Choose a card with a 0 percent intro APR offer that fits your goals or, if you have recurring costs, consider one that rewards medical spending.

But be aware that if you can’t pay off your balance each billing statement or when the intro APR period ends, then you could be hit with a high interest rate that will increase your medical debt and may hurt your overall credit. If you’re having trouble finding the funds to pay your bills, consider exploring alternatives such as a payment plan from your medical provider, a line of credit or a personal loan.

Frequently asked questions about paying medical expenses with credit cards

• What are the risks for paying medical bills with credit cards?
  

  The major risk is high interest rates if you can’t pay off your balance in full each billing cycle. If it takes a long time to pay down your medical expenses, the interest charges could be exorbitant. Plus, credit card debt could negatively impact your credit.

• Can I negotiate my medical bill if I pay with a credit card?
  

  Typically, if you pay with a credit card, you’ll no longer be in a position to negotiate with medical providers. Once providers receive their money from the issuer, you’ll have to shoulder any medical expenses charged to your card. Keep in mind that some hospitals and healthcare providers offer in-house payment options and discounts that could act as alternatives to charging your credit card. This approach also enables you to deal with the provider directly.

• Is paying medical expenses with a credit card a good idea?
  

  That will depend on your financial situation. If you pay your balance in full at the end of your card’s billing cycle or intro APR offer, then charging medical expenses can be convenient and, if it’s a rewards card, can deliver some earnings too. But if you’ll start incurring interest or late fee charges, your debt could snowball and damage your credit. Instead, you might consider options like taking out a low-interest personal loan.

The information about the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays and U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.