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. At the start of 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule that would have removed medical bills from credit reports. But just a few months later, a ruling from a federal court in Texas voided this rule, meaning some unpaid medical debt can still appear on credit reports and affect your credit score.
Depending on the total medical costs, there are still time's where using a credit card could be the right move. 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.)
Senior reporter Jason Stauffer can answer your questions about how to make the most of your credit cards in his weekly Points Pro column. Submit yours here.
Best credit cards for medical expenses
Best for intro APR
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is perfect for financing medical expenses because of its generous introductory APR offer. You'll receive a long introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days of account opening. This allows you to save money on new medical bills and existing credit card debt.
Standout benefits: Outside of its long intro APR offer, the Wells Fargo Reflect offers few perks. You can, though, take advantage of cellphone protection
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is one of the absolute best cards you can apply for if you want to save on interest and pay down debit quickly thanks to its extra generous intro-APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
- Incredible intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance: up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High balance transfer fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- 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. 17.74%, 24.24%, or 28.49% 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.
Balance transfer fee
5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best for drugstores
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. Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and at least 1.5% back on non-category 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.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus. Plus, if you pair it with a premium Chase credit card that allows point transfers, you can convert your cash back into flexible travel rewards.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers receive an intro APR
- 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.
- 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 TravelSM, 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 use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- 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, in the first 60 days. 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
Best for Walgreens
Who's this for? Bilt members can earn on everyday health and wellness purchases at Walgreens, from 2X Bilt Points on Walgreens-branded products to 100 Bilt Points on prescription refills, up to 26 times per calendar year. The Bilt Blue Card (see rates and fees), with its $0 annual fee, is a great low-cost entry into Bilt's ecosystem.
Standout benefits: Through a partnership with Walgreens, you can link your FSA or HSA account to your Bilt account and automatically get reimbursed for eligible purchases you make at Walgreens with any card you've added to your Bilt Wallet.
* A maximum benefit amount and certain restrictions and limitations apply. Please review the Mastercard Guide to Benefits for details:
https://www.biltrewards.com/terms/blue-card-guide-to-benefit
The Bilt Blue Card offers a solid entry card to the world of Bilt, offering 1X on everyday purchases without charging an annual fee.
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- No annual fee
- Can earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
- Additional steps for no-fee rent payments
- Bilt Cash redemptions are complicated
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
- Other benefits: No foreign transaction fees, Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection, Purchase Assurance, MasterRental Coverage (See Guide to Benefits)
Balance transfer fee
Greater of 5% or $5
Best for cash back
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% cash rewards on all purchases.
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.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $100 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. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% 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.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Best for healthcare rewards
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.
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays
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.
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash-back bonus when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
None.
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 billing cycles after each balance transfer that is made within 45 days of account opening.
Regular APR
20.99% to 29.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
Introductory fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
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
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 | Intro APR | None | None | Yes | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Drugstores | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
| Bilt Blue Card | Walgreens | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Cash back | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
| AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays | Healthcare rewards | Yes | Yes | Yes | $0 |
For rates and fees of the Bilt Blue Card, click here.
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
- 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.
- 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.
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