Even with good health insurance, medical bills can be a big out-of-pocket expense. If you can’t cover these costs with a health savings account, you may be tempted to charge these bills to a credit card to earn rewards or unlock a valuable welcome bonus. However, paying healthcare costs with a credit card can be risky if you can’t pay off the balance before you’re hit with high interest charges.
If you’re in a situation where paying your medical expenses with a credit card makes sense, CNBC Select has the details on the top options. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)
Best credit cards for medical expenses
Best for 0% APR
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
On Wells Fargo’s secure site
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Rewards
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
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Regular APR
17.24%, 23.74% or 28.99% variable APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- Best-in-class intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance
Cons
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High balance transfer fee
Best for drugstores
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
- Valuable welcome bonus and high rewards rates
- Long intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back 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 19.74% – 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
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Who’s this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent no-annual-fee option if you want to be rewarded for your drugstore (and dining) purchases.
Standout benefits: In addition to the valuable bonus categories, this card offers a competitive intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. So, you’ll be able to earn cash back and save on interest.
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Pro tip: You can pair this card with a Chase bank account
When you open a Chase Total Checking® account, you can earn a $300 bonus after you make at least $500 in direct deposits within 90 days of opening the account. You can also waive the monthly maintenance fee with qualifying activities.
Chase Total Checking®
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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
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Minimum balance to open
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Monthly service fee
$12 or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network, OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account, OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.
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Free ATM network
With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
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ATM fee reimbursement
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Overdraft fee
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Mobile check deposit
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
Best for Walgreens
Bilt Mastercard®
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Rewards
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points – Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year, 3x points on dining, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on other purchases
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
Up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
See rates/fees and rewards/benefits; terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Solid rewards on broad spending categories
- Ability to pay your rent with no transaction fees
- Transfer points to leading frequent traveler programs at a 1:1 rate, including United and World of Hyatt®
Who’s this for? You will appreciate the unique opportunities available with the Bilt Mastercard® and Bilt Rewards program if you want to earn flexible travel rewards.
Standout benefits: Through a partnership with Walgreens, you can link your FSA or HSA account to your Bilt Rewards account and automatically get reimbursed for eligible Walgreens purchases you make with any card you’ve added to your Bilt wallet. On top of your usual rewards, you’ll also earn 2X Bilt points on Walgreens branded products, 1X Bilt points on other Walgreens purchases and 100 Bilt points on eligible prescription refills when you pay with a card linked to your Bilt wallet.
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Best for cash back
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
On Wells Fargo’s secure site
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Rewards
Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
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Regular APR
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
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Balance transfer fee
Intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- High flat-rate return on all purchases
- Intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for a year
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance
Cons
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on all purchases and $0 annual fee.
Who’s this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great option if you want a card that can do a little of everything because it has an intro APR offer and earns 2% in cash rewards on every purchase.
Standout benefits: While you normally want to avoid carrying a credit card balance, this card’s intro APR offer gives you a year to take care of it without paying interest. Other built-in card benefits include cell phone protection.
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Best for medical expenses
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays
Information about the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Rewards
3% cash back on gas and drugstore purchases (except for Target and Walmart), 2% back on eligible medical expenses, 1% back on all other purchases.
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Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash-back bonus when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
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Annual fee
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Intro APR
0% for the first 15 billing cycles after each balance transfer that is made within 45 days of account opening.
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Regular APR
21.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% variable
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Balance transfer fee
Introductory fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
Pros
- Long Intro APR for balance transfers
- No annual fee
- High cash-back rates for gas, drugstore and medical purchases
Cons
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to purchases
Who’s this for? The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays is a good fit for anyone who wants to earn bonus cash-back rewards at drugstores and on medical expenses, including purchases at doctors, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors and more. Better yet, you don’t have to be an AARP member to apply.
Standout benefits: You can utilize the card’s promotional intro APR on balance transfers to reduce your interest charges.
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Compare savings accounts
More on our top credit cards for medical expenses
Best credit cards for medical expenses comparison
| Credit Card | CNBC Select’s pick for | Rewards | Welcome bonus | Intro APR | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 back | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
| AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays | Medicals expenses | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Best for 0% APR
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
[ Return to card summary ]
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for drugstores
Rewards
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can enroll to receive three free months of DoorDash DashPass, which comes with reduced fees and $0 delivery fees (activate by Jan. 31, 2025). You’ll also be able to get up to $10 off a non-restaurant DoorDash order once per quarter.
The Freedom Unlimited has a solid array of insurance benefits for a no-annual-fee cash-back card. You can take advantage of purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, car rental coverage and travel and emergency assistance.
[ Return to card summary ]
Bilt Mastercard®
Best for Walgreens
Rewards
- 1X points on rent payments with no transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 3X points on dining
- 2X points on travel
- 1X point on all other purchases
To earn points with the Bilt card, you need to make at least five transactions per billing cycle.
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0 (see rates and fees)
Notable perks
The rewards you earn with the Bilt Mastercard are incredibly valuable. They can be used to book travel through the Bilt Travel Portal for 1.25 cents per point or toward a down payment on a home at a rate of 1.5 cents per point. You’ll also have access to an incredible list of transfer partners, including World of Hyatt, United MileagePlus, Emirates Skywards, Alaska Airlines and many more. On top of that, the card provides trip delay reimbursement, trip interruption and cancellation protection, primary car rental collision insurance, cell phone protection and purchase protection.
[ Return to card summary ]
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Best for cash back
Rewards
- 2% cash rewards back on purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
[ Return to card summary ]
AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays
Best for medical expenses
Rewards
- 3% cash back at drugstores (not including Walmart or Target)
- 3% cash back at gas stations
- 2% cash back on medical expenses
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 cash back when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
[ Return to card summary ]
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Pros and cons of credit cards for medical expenses
Pros
- No-interest offers: Many credit cards offer 0% intro APR periods for purchases and/or balance transfers, which can be an affordable way to finance medical bills.
- Rewards: By earning rewards on your purchases you can receive a small rebate for the expense you would have to pay anyway.
Cons
- High APRs: Credit cards usually have higher APRs than other types of unsecured consumer debt.
- Credit impact: You can harm your credit score if you dramatically increase your credit card balances.
FAQs
Can I put medical expenses on a credit card?
You usually can put medical expenses on a credit card, but there are risks. Credit cards have exceptionally high APRs. If you can’t pay the balance in full, the interest charges will pile up.
Are medical credit cards a good idea?
You’ll normally want to avoid using a medical credit card unless you’ve exhausted all your other options. They typically have high APRs and feature deferred interest offers, so if you don’t pay off the full balance before the intro APR expires, you’ll be on the hook for any accumulated interest.
Does my FSA cover medical expenses I put on a credit card?
As long as the purchase is eligible for FSA reimbursement, you can use a credit card and get reimbursement from your FSA. Be sure to keep your receipt or bill, which you’ll need to submit.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for medical expenses.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for medical expenses, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
