Rising Health Costs Are Fueling Credit Card Debt: What You Can Do

Key Takeaways

• Rising out-of-pocket health care costs have led many people to cut discretionary spending or increase credit card debt.
• Requesting an itemized medical bill can help you identify and dispute any incorrect charges.
• Hospitals often offer financial assistance programs, which can reduce or eliminate a patient’s medical bills.

Pricey medical bills can be overwhelming, forcing people to cut spending in other areas of their lives or to rely more heavily on high-interest debt.

A survey of more than 2,000 people by the Employee Benefits Research Institute found 40% reported dealing with increased out-of-pocket health care costs in the past year.

Of those who did, 55% said they reduced their discretionary spending as a result, while more than one-third (35%) said they increased their credit card debt.

However, there are ways to ease the burden of medical bills without having to lean on credit cards, which often have sky-high APRs.

What This Means For You

Using high-interest credit cards to pay medical bills can lead to costly debt that is difficult to pay down. That can ultimately affect credit scores and disrupt a household’s long-term financial stability.

When you get a medical bill, don’t pay it off immediately.

Instead, call the hospital’s billing department and request an itemized bill. The bill should list all the services or procedures (and their respective codes) that are charged. If you notice anything that doesn’t align with the care you received, try chatting with the billing department and challenging any faulty charges.

If your bill is correct, avoid paying it with a credit card. Consider requesting a payment plan instead, since incurring interest on your medical debt can make it even harder to pay off.

Related Education

Nearly 60% of People Skip or Delay Medical Treatment Due to High Costs—Here’s What to Do Instead

20 Strategies to Cut Your Medical Expenses

In 2025, the average credit card APR across all accounts was more than 21%. In contrast, many hospitals offer payment plans with little to no interest, which allows patients to spread the cost out over many months and makes it easier to budget for.

Even if you think you won’t qualify, try inquiring with your hospital’s billing office about financial assistance policies.

In the U.S., nonprofit hospitals are required to provide some type of financial assistance to those who qualify, and you may be eligible even if you’re insured. While these policies vary by hospital, they may be based on income, assets, and more. If you’re eligible, your medical bills may be reduced or eliminated entirely.

Ultimately, there is a way out of medical debt—though it may involve a few phone calls to your hospital’s billing office and making room in your budget for a monthly payment plan.

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