Even with good medical insurance, medical payments is usually a large out-of-pocket expense. If you may’t 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 precious welcome bonus. However, paying healthcare prices with a bank card may be dangerous if you cannot repay the stability earlier than you are hit with excessive curiosity fees.
If you are in a scenario the place paying your medical bills with a bank card is sensible, CNBC Select has the small print on the highest choices. (See our methodology for extra data on how we made this checklist.)
Best bank cards for medical bills
Best for 0% APR
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
On Wells Fargo’s safe website
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Rewards
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Welcome bonus
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Annual charge
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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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Regular APR
17.24%, 23.74% or 28.99% variable APR
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Balance switch charge
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Foreign transaction charge
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Credit wanted
Pros
- Best-in-class intro-APR for purchases and qualifying stability transfers
- No annual charge
- Cell telephone insurance coverage
Cons
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High stability switch charge
Best for drugstores
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns beneficiant cash-back on on a regular basis purchases and a profitable welcome bonus.
- Valuable welcome bonus and excessive rewards charges
- Long intro APR for purchases and stability transfers
- No annual charge
- Has a international transaction charge
- Few rewarding ongoing advantages
Highlights
Highlights proven listed here are supplied by the issuer and haven’t been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial employees.
- Intro Offer: Earn a further 1.5% money again on every little thing you purchase (on as much as $20,000 spent within the first 12 months) – price as much as $300 money again!
- Enjoy 6.5% money again on journey bought by way of Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that allows you to redeem rewards for money again, journey, present 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 12 months).
- After your first 12 months or $20,000 spent, take pleasure in 5% money again on journey bought by way of Chase Travel℠, 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 can select to obtain a press release credit score or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and financial savings accounts. Cash Back rewards don’t expire so long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 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 charge – You will not should pay an annual charge for all the nice options that include your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs in your credit score well being, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit score with free entry to your newest rating, alerts, and extra.
- Member FDIC
Balance switch charge
Intro charge 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.
Foreign transaction charge
3% of every transaction in U.S. {dollars}
Who’s this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a wonderful no-annual-fee possibility if you wish to be rewarded on your drugstore (and dining) purchases.
Standout advantages: In addition to the precious bonus classes, this card provides a aggressive intro APR interval on purchases and stability transfers. So, you’ll earn money again and save on curiosity.
Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Chase checking account
When you open a Chase Total Checking® account, you may earn a $300 bonus after you make at the least $500 in direct deposits inside 90 days of opening the account. You also can waive the month-to-month upkeep charge with qualifying activities.
Chase Total Checking®
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum stability to open
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Monthly service charge
$12 or $0 with one of many following, every month-to-month assertion interval: Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or extra, corresponding to funds from payroll suppliers or authorities profit suppliers, by utilizing (i) the ACH community, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM community, (iii) third occasion providers that facilitate funds to your debit card utilizing the Visa® or Mastercard® community, OR a stability initially 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 most important department community within the U.S. plus entry to greater than 15,000 ATMs.
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ATM charge reimbursement
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Overdraft charge
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Mobile test deposit
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
Best for Walgreens
Bilt Mastercard®
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Rewards
Use the cardboard 5 instances every assertion interval to earn factors – Earn 1x factors on lease funds with out the transaction charge, as much as 100,000 factors every calendar 12 months, 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 charge
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance switch charge
Up to five% for every stability switch, with a minimal of $5.
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Foreign transaction charge
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Credit wanted
See charges/charges and rewards/advantages; phrases apply.
Pros
- No annual charge
- Solid rewards on broad spending classes
- Ability to pay your lease with no transaction charges
- Transfer factors to main frequent traveler packages at a 1:1 charge, together with United and World of Hyatt®
Who’s this for? You will respect the distinctive alternatives out there with the Bilt Mastercard® and Bilt Rewards program if you wish to earn versatile journey rewards.
Standout advantages: Through a partnership with Walgreens, you may hyperlink your FSA or HSA account to your Bilt Rewards account and routinely get reimbursed for eligible Walgreens purchases you make with any card you’ve got added to your Bilt pockets. On high of your normal rewards, you will additionally earn 2X Bilt factors on Walgreens branded merchandise, 1X Bilt factors on different Walgreens purchases and 100 Bilt factors on eligible prescription refills if you pay with a card linked to your Bilt pockets.
Best for money again
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
On Wells Fargo’s safe website
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Rewards
Unlimited 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 charge
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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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Regular APR
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
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Balance switch charge
Intro charge and charge of three% then a BT charge of as much as 5%, min: $5.
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Foreign transaction charge
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Credit wanted
Pros
- High flat-rate return on all purchases
- Intro-APR for purchases and qualifying stability transfers for a 12 months
- No annual charge
- Cell telephone insurance coverage
Cons
- Has a international transaction charge
- Limited redemption choices until you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that permits level transfers
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is nice if you need simplicity due to its flat-rate 2% limitless money rewards on all purchases and $0 annual charge.
Who’s this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a superb possibility if you need a card that may do some of every little thing as a result of it has an intro APR supply and earns 2% in money rewards on each buy.
Standout advantages: While you usually wish to keep away from carrying a credit card balance, this card’s intro APR supply provides you a 12 months to care for it with out paying curiosity. Other built-in card advantages embrace cellphone safety.
Best for medical bills
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays
Information in regards to the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays has been collected independently by CNBC Select 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 (apart from Target 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 if you spend $1,000 inside the first 90 days of account opening.
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Annual charge
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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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Regular APR
21.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable
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Balance switch charge
Introductory charge of both $5 or 5% of the quantity of every stability switch, whichever is larger.
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Foreign transaction charge
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Credit wanted
Pros
- Long Intro APR for stability transfers
- No annual charge
- High cash-back charges for fuel, drugstore and medical purchases
Cons
- Has a international transaction charge
- Intro APR does not apply to purchases
Who’s this for? The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays is an effective match for anybody who needs to earn bonus cash-back rewards at drugstores and on medical bills, together with purchases at medical doctors, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors and extra. Better but, you do not have to be an AARP member to use.
Standout advantages: You can make the most of the cardboard’s promotional intro APR on stability transfers to cut back your curiosity fees.
Compare financial savings accounts
More on our high bank cards for medical bills
Best bank cards for medical bills comparability
| Credit Card | CNBC Select’s decide for | Rewards | Welcome bonus | Intro APR | Annual charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | 0% APR | None | None | Yes | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Drugstores | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
| Bilt Mastercard® | Walgreens | Yes | None | No | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Cash again | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
| AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays | Medicals bills | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Best for 0% APR
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
None
Annual charge
$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 cellphone insurance coverage will reimburse you as much as $600 towards injury or theft per declare with a $25 deductible (as much as two claims per 12 months).
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for drugstores
Rewards
- 5% again on journey bought by way of Chase Travel℠
- 5% again on Lyft rides (by way of 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 every little thing you purchase (on as much as $20,000 spent within the first 12 months).
Annual charge
$0
Notable perks
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you may enroll to obtain three free months of DoorDash DashPass, which comes with lowered charges and $0 supply charges (activate by Jan. 31, 2025). You’ll additionally be capable of stand up to $10 off a non-restaurant DoorDash order as soon as per quarter.
The Freedom Unlimited has a strong array of insurance coverage advantages for a no-annual-fee cash-back card. You can benefit from buy safety, extended warranty protection, journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, automotive rental protection and journey and emergency help.
Bilt Mastercard®
Best for Walgreens
Rewards
- 1X factors on lease funds with no transaction charge (as much as 100,000 factors every calendar 12 months)
- 3X factors on eating
- 2X factors on journey
- 1X level on all different purchases
To earn factors with the Bilt card, it is advisable to make at the least 5 transactions per billing cycle.
Welcome bonus
None
Annual charge
$0 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The rewards you earn with the Bilt Mastercard are extremely precious. They can be utilized to guide journey by way of the Bilt Travel Portal for 1.25 cents per level or towards a down cost on a house at a charge of 1.5 cents per level. You’ll even have entry to an unbelievable checklist of switch companions, together with World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Emirates Skywards, Alaska Airlines and lots of extra. On high of that, the cardboard offers journey delay reimbursement, journey interruption and cancellation safety, major automotive rental collision insurance coverage, cellphone safety and buy safety.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Best 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 charge
$0
Notable perks
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card provides cellphone insurance coverage, journey and emergency help, rental automotive insurance coverage and roadside dispatch. The cellphone safety covers injury and theft for as much as $600 per declare with a $25 deductible (as much as two claims per 12 months).
AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays
Best for medical bills
Rewards
- 3% money again at drugstores (not together with Walmart or Target)
- 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 if you spend $1,000 inside the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual charge
$0
Notable perks
The rewards you earn with the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays are straightforward to redeem and you should utilize them for an AARP membership for your self or as a present for a good friend or member of the family. For each new card opened by way of Mar. 31, 2025, Barclays will donate $10 plus 1% of eligible digital and telecommunications purchases to the AARP Foundation.
Find the perfect bank card for you by reviewing provides in our credit card marketplace or get customized provides through CardMatch™.
Pros and cons of bank cards for medical bills
Pros
- No-interest provides: Many bank cards supply 0% intro APR durations for purchases and/or stability transfers, which may be an inexpensive technique to finance medical payments.
- Rewards: By incomes rewards in your purchases you may obtain a small rebate for the expense you would need to pay anyway.
Cons
- High APRs: Credit playing cards often have larger APRs than different kinds of unsecured shopper debt.
- Credit influence: You can hurt your credit score rating should you dramatically improve your bank card balances.
FAQs
Can I put medical bills on a bank card?
You often can put medical bills on a bank card, however there are dangers. Credit playing cards have exceptionally excessive APRs. If you may’t pay the stability in full, the curiosity fees will pile up.
Are medical bank cards a good suggestion?
You’ll usually wish to keep away from utilizing a medical bank card until you’ve got exhausted all of your different choices. They usually have excessive APRs and have deferred curiosity provides, so should you do not repay the total stability earlier than the intro APR expires, you will be on the hook for any accrued curiosity.
Does my FSA cowl medical bills I placed on a bank card?
As lengthy as the acquisition is eligible for FSA reimbursement, you should utilize a bank card and get reimbursement out of your FSA. Be certain to maintain your receipt or invoice, which you will have to submit.
Why belief CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to offer our readers with high-quality service journalism and complete shopper recommendation to allow them to make knowledgeable choices with their cash. Every bank card article relies on rigorous reporting by our staff of skilled writers and editors with intensive data of bank card merchandise. While CNBC Select earns a fee from affiliate companions on many provides and hyperlinks, we create all our content material with out enter from our business staff or any exterior third events, and we delight 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 decide which playing cards supply the perfect worth for medical bills, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 main bank cards issued by way of FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit score unions which can be broadly out there within the U.S.
We in contrast every card on a spread of options, together with rewards, annual charges, welcome bonuses, introductory and commonplace APR and stability switch charges and international 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 appliance course of when out there (e.g., is there a credit score pull or required credit score rating) and the way straightforward 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 Select viewers information when out there, corresponding to normal demographics and engagement with our content material and instruments.
For the playing cards that provided a rewards program, we thought-about shopper spending information forecasts from location intelligence agency Esri to find out the place U.S. customers are spending essentially the most cash, like on eating and journey. We used this to assist decide what bonus classes are most helpful for customers. Since the worth of a degree or mile varies primarily based on what they are often redeemed for, we additionally thought-about issues like transferability and the power to redeem for cash-back.
Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth protection of credit cards, banking and money, and comply with us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to remain updated.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, opinions or suggestions expressed on this article are these of the Select editorial employees’s alone, and haven’t been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any third occasion.
