Even with good medical health insurance, medical payments generally is a massive out-of-pocket expense. If you cannot cowl these prices with a health savings account, it’s possible you’ll be tempted to cost these payments to a bank card to earn rewards or unlock a useful welcome bonus. Nevertheless, paying healthcare prices with a bank card will be dangerous if you cannot repay the stability earlier than you are hit with excessive curiosity expenses.
When you’re in a state of affairs the place paying your medical bills with a bank card is smart, CNBC Select has the small print on the highest choices. (See our methodology for extra data on how we made this record.)
Greatest bank cards for medical bills
Greatest for 0% APR
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
On Wells Fargo’s safe web site
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Rewards
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Welcome bonus
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Annual price
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Intro APR
0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying stability transfers.
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Common APR
17.24%, 23.74% or 28.99% variable APR
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Stability switch price
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International transaction price
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Credit score wanted
Execs
- Greatest-in-class intro-APR for purchases and qualifying stability transfers
- No annual price
- Mobile phone insurance coverage
Cons
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- Excessive stability switch price
Greatest for drugstores
The Chase Freedom Limitless® is a no-annual-fee card that earns beneficiant cash-back on on a regular basis purchases and a profitable welcome bonus.
- Helpful welcome bonus and excessive rewards charges
- Lengthy intro APR for purchases and stability transfers
- No annual price
- Has a overseas transaction price
- Few rewarding ongoing advantages
Highlights
Highlights proven listed below are supplied by the issuer and haven’t been reviewed by CNBC Choose’s editorial employees.
- Intro Provide: Earn a further 1.5% money again on the whole lot you purchase (on as much as $20,000 spent within the first yr) – price as much as $300 money again!
- Get pleasure from 6.5% money again on journey bought by Chase Journey℠, our premier rewards program that permits you to redeem rewards for money again, journey, reward playing cards and extra; 4.5% money again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places, together with takeout and eligible supply service, and three% on all different purchases (on as much as $20,000 spent within the first yr).
- After your first yr or $20,000 spent, take pleasure in 5% money again on journey bought by Chase Journey℠, 3% money again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places, together with takeout and eligible supply service, and limitless 1.5% money again on all different purchases.
- No minimal to redeem for money again. You may select to obtain an announcement credit score or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and financial savings accounts. Money Again rewards don’t expire so long as your account is open!
- Get pleasure from 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and stability transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% – 28.49%.
- No annual price – You will not should pay an annual price for all the nice options that include your Freedom Limitless® card
- Hold tabs in your credit score well being, Chase Credit score Journey helps you monitor your credit score with free entry to your newest rating, alerts, and extra.
- Member FDIC
Stability switch price
Intro price of both $5 or 3% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger, on transfers made inside 60 days of account opening. After that, both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every switch, whichever is larger.
International transaction price
3% of every transaction in U.S. {dollars}
Who’s this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a superb no-annual-fee possibility if you wish to be rewarded on your drugstore (and dining) purchases.
Standout advantages: Along with the precious bonus classes, this card presents a aggressive intro APR interval on purchases and stability transfers. So, you can earn money again and save on curiosity.
Professional tip: You may pair this card with a Chase checking account
Whenever you open a Chase Total Checking® account, you possibly can earn a $300 bonus after you make at the very least $500 in direct deposits inside 90 days of opening the account. You may as well waive the month-to-month upkeep price with qualifying activities.
Chase Total Checking®
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Annual Share Yield (APY)
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Minimal stability to open
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Month-to-month service price
$12 or $0 with one of many following, every month-to-month assertion interval: Digital deposits made into this account totaling $500 or extra, similar to funds from payroll suppliers or authorities profit suppliers, by utilizing (i) the ACH community, (ii) the Actual Time Fee or FedNowSM community, (iii) third celebration providers that facilitate funds to your debit card utilizing the Visa® or Mastercard® community, OR a stability in the beginning of every day of $1,500 or extra on this account, OR a mean starting day stability of $5,000 or extra in any mixture of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, financial savings, and different balances.
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Free ATM community
With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the biggest department community within the U.S. plus entry to greater than 15,000 ATMs.
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ATM price reimbursement
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Overdraft price
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Cellular test deposit
JPMorgan Chase Financial institution, N.A. Member FDIC
Greatest for Walgreens
Bilt Mastercard®
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Rewards
Use the cardboard 5 instances every assertion interval to earn factors – Earn 1x factors on hire funds with out the transaction price, as much as 100,000 factors every calendar yr, 3x factors on eating, 2x factors on journey, and 1x factors on different purchases
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Welcome bonus
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Annual price
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Intro APR
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Common APR
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Stability switch price
As much as 5% for every stability switch, with a minimal of $5.
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International transaction price
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Credit score wanted
See charges/charges and rewards/advantages; phrases apply.
Execs
- No annual price
- Strong rewards on broad spending classes
- Capability to pay your hire with no transaction charges
- Switch factors to main frequent traveler packages at a 1:1 charge, together with United and World of Hyatt®
Who’s this for? You’ll admire the distinctive alternatives accessible with the Bilt Mastercard® and Bilt Rewards program if you wish to earn versatile journey rewards.
Standout advantages: By means of a partnership with Walgreens, you possibly can hyperlink your FSA or HSA account to your Bilt Rewards account and mechanically get reimbursed for eligible Walgreens purchases you make with any card you’ve got added to your Bilt pockets. On high of your ordinary rewards, you may additionally earn 2X Bilt factors on Walgreens branded merchandise, 1X Bilt factors on different Walgreens purchases and 100 Bilt factors on eligible prescription refills while you pay with a card linked to your Bilt pockets.
Greatest for money again
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
On Wells Fargo’s safe web site
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Rewards
Limitless 2% money rewards on purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 money rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases within the first 3 months
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Annual price
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Intro APR
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying stability transfers.
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Common APR
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
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Stability switch price
Intro charge and price of three% then a BT price of as much as 5%, min: $5.
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International transaction price
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Credit score wanted
Execs
- Excessive flat-rate return on all purchases
- Intro-APR for purchases and qualifying stability transfers for a yr
- No annual price
- Mobile phone insurance coverage
Cons
- Has a overseas transaction price
- Restricted redemption choices except you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that enables level transfers
The Wells Fargo Energetic Money® Card is nice if you would like simplicity due to its flat-rate 2% limitless money rewards on all purchases and $0 annual price.
Who’s this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a superb possibility if you would like a card that may perform a little of the whole lot as a result of it has an intro APR provide and earns 2% in money rewards on each buy.
Standout advantages: Whilst you usually wish to keep away from carrying a credit card balance, this card’s intro APR provide offers you a yr to handle it with out paying curiosity. Different built-in card advantages embrace cellular phone safety.
Greatest for medical bills
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays
Details about the AARP® Important Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays has been collected independently by CNBC Choose and has not been reviewed or supplied by the issuer of the cardboard previous to publication.
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Rewards
3% money again on fuel and drugstore purchases (aside from Goal and Walmart), 2% again on eligible medical bills, 1% again on all different purchases.
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Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash-back bonus while you spend $1,000 inside the first 90 days of account opening.
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Annual price
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Intro APR
0% for the primary 15 billing cycles after every stability switch that’s made inside 45 days of account opening.
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Common APR
21.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable
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Stability switch price
Introductory price of both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every stability switch, whichever is larger.
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International transaction price
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Credit score wanted
Execs
- Lengthy Intro APR for stability transfers
- No annual price
- Excessive cash-back charges for fuel, drugstore and medical purchases
Cons
- Has a overseas transaction price
- Intro APR does not apply to purchases
Who’s this for? The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays is an efficient match for anybody who desires to earn bonus cash-back rewards at drugstores and on medical bills, together with purchases at medical doctors, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors and extra. Higher but, you do not have to be an AARP member to use.
Standout advantages: You may make the most of the cardboard’s promotional intro APR on stability transfers to cut back your curiosity expenses.
Examine financial savings accounts
Extra on our high bank cards for medical bills
Greatest bank cards for medical bills comparability
| Credit score Card | CNBC Choose’s decide for | Rewards | Welcome bonus | Intro APR | Annual price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Replicate® Card | 0% APR | None | None | Sure | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Limitless® | Drugstores | Sure | Sure | Sure | $0 |
| Bilt Mastercard® | Walgreens | Sure | None | No | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Energetic Money® Card | Money again | Sure | Sure | Sure | $0 |
| AARP® Important Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays | Medicals bills | Sure | Sure | Sure | $0 |
Wells Fargo Replicate® Card
Greatest for 0% APR
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
None
Annual price
$0
Notable perks
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has a number of built-in protections, together with roadside dispatch, rental automotive collision protection (secondary) and cell phone protection. The cellular phone insurance coverage will reimburse you as much as $600 towards harm or theft per declare with a $25 deductible (as much as two claims per 12 months).
Chase Freedom Limitless®
Greatest for drugstores
Rewards
- 5% again on journey bought by Chase Travel℠
- 5% again on Lyft rides (by March 2025)
- 3% again at drugstores
- 3% again on eating at eating places (together with takeout and eligible supply providers)
- 1.5% on all different purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn a further 1.5% money again on the whole lot you purchase (on as much as $20,000 spent within the first yr).
Annual price
$0
Notable perks
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you possibly can enroll to obtain three free months of DoorDash DashPass, which comes with lowered charges and $0 supply charges (activate by Jan. 31, 2025). You may additionally be capable of stand up to $10 off a non-restaurant DoorDash order as soon as per quarter.
The Freedom Limitless has a strong array of insurance coverage advantages for a no-annual-fee cash-back card. You may benefit from buy safety, extended warranty protection, journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, automotive rental protection and journey and emergency help.
Bilt Mastercard®
Greatest for Walgreens
Rewards
- 1X factors on hire funds with no transaction price (as much as 100,000 factors every calendar yr)
- 3X factors on eating
- 2X factors on journey
- 1X level on all different purchases
To earn factors with the Bilt card, you should make at the very least 5 transactions per billing cycle.
Welcome bonus
None
Annual price
$0 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The rewards you earn with the Bilt Mastercard are extremely useful. They can be utilized to e book journey by the Bilt Journey Portal for 1.25 cents per level or towards a down fee on a house at a charge of 1.5 cents per level. You may even have entry to an unimaginable record of switch companions, together with World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Emirates Skywards, Alaska Airways and lots of extra. On high of that, the cardboard supplies journey delay reimbursement, journey interruption and cancellation safety, major automotive rental collision insurance coverage, cellular phone safety and buy safety.
Wells Fargo Energetic Money® Card
Greatest for money again
Rewards
- 2% money rewards again on purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 money rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Annual price
$0
Notable perks
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card presents cellular phone insurance coverage, journey and emergency help, rental automotive insurance coverage and roadside dispatch. The cellular phone safety covers harm and theft for as much as $600 per declare with a $25 deductible (as much as two claims per 12 months).
AARP® Important Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays
Greatest for medical bills
Rewards
- 3% money again at drugstores (not together with Walmart or Goal)
- 3% money again at fuel stations
- 2% money again on medical bills
- 1% money again on all different purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 money again while you spend $1,000 inside the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual price
$0
Notable perks
The rewards you earn with the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays are simple to redeem and you should utilize them for an AARP membership for your self or as a present for a buddy or member of the family. For each new card opened by Mar. 31, 2025, Barclays will donate $10 plus 1% of eligible digital and telecommunications purchases to the AARP Basis.
Discover the perfect bank card for you by reviewing presents in our credit card marketplace or get customized presents by way of CardMatch™.
Execs and cons of bank cards for medical bills
Execs
- No-interest presents: Many bank cards provide 0% intro APR intervals for purchases and/or stability transfers, which will be an reasonably priced technique to finance medical payments.
- Rewards: By incomes rewards in your purchases you possibly can obtain a small rebate for the expense you would need to pay anyway.
Cons
- Excessive APRs: Bank cards normally have increased APRs than different kinds of unsecured shopper debt.
- Credit score affect: You may hurt your credit score rating in case you dramatically enhance your bank card balances.
FAQs
Can I put medical bills on a bank card?
You normally can put medical bills on a bank card, however there are dangers. Bank cards have exceptionally excessive APRs. If you cannot pay the stability in full, the curiosity expenses will pile up.
Are medical bank cards a good suggestion?
You may usually wish to keep away from utilizing a medical bank card except you’ve got exhausted all of your different choices. They sometimes have excessive APRs and have deferred curiosity presents, so in case you do not repay the total stability earlier than the intro APR expires, you may be on the hook for any amassed curiosity.
Does my FSA cowl medical bills I placed on a bank card?
So long as the acquisition is eligible for FSA reimbursement, you should utilize a bank card and get reimbursement out of your FSA. You’ll want to hold your receipt or invoice, which you may must submit.
Why belief CNBC Choose?
At CNBC Choose, our mission is to offer our readers with high-quality service journalism and complete shopper recommendation to allow them to make knowledgeable selections with their cash. Each bank card article is predicated on rigorous reporting by our group of knowledgeable writers and editors with in depth data of bank card merchandise. Whereas CNBC Choose earns a fee from affiliate companions on many presents and hyperlinks, we create all our content material with out enter from our industrial group or any outdoors third events, and we pleasure ourselves on our journalistic requirements and ethics. See our methodology for extra data on how we select the perfect bank cards for medical bills.
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Our methodology
To find out which playing cards provide the perfect worth for medical bills, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 main bank cards issued by FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit score unions which can be extensively accessible within the U.S.
We in contrast every card on a spread of options, together with rewards, annual charges, welcome bonuses, introductory and normal APR and stability switch charges and overseas transaction charges. We additionally thought-about extra perks (e.g., ongoing journey or service provider assertion credit), cardholder protections (e.g., buy safety, $0 legal responsibility safety and journey insurance coverage), the applying course of when accessible (e.g., is there a credit score pull or required credit score rating) and the way simple it’s to redeem factors (e.g., are rewards are tied to a selected model; if transferable, to what number of/which companions, are you able to redeem for straight money again).
We additionally thought-about CNBC Choose viewers knowledge when accessible, similar to normal demographics and engagement with our content material and instruments.
For the playing cards that supplied a rewards program, we thought-about shopper spending knowledge forecasts from location intelligence agency Esri to find out the place U.S. shoppers are spending essentially the most cash, like on eating and journey. We used this to assist decide what bonus classes are most helpful for shoppers. Because the worth of some extent or mile varies primarily based on what they are often redeemed for, we additionally thought-about issues like transferability and the flexibility to redeem for cash-back.
Make amends for CNBC Choose’s in-depth protection of credit cards, banking and money, and observe us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to remain updated.
Editorial Word: Opinions, analyses, opinions or suggestions expressed on this article are these of the Choose editorial employees’s alone, and haven’t been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any third celebration.
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