Medical problems don’t wait until your bank account is full. Maybe your dog swallows a sock and needs emergency pet care, or you’re hit with a large dental bill after a routine checkup becomes a root canal. In these moments, veterinary costs and medical care expenses can add up fast — and not everyone has the savings to pay upfront.

That’s where third-party financing options come in. Instead of choosing between care and your wallet, solutions like CareCredit and Scratchpay give patients access to payment options that spread expenses into manageable chunks. For practices, offering financing can ease conversations about cost and help more patients say “yes” to treatment, all while improving cash flow and encouraging growth.

What is CareCredit?

CareCredit is one of the most widely known financing options in healthcare. Backed by Synchrony, the CareCredit credit card acts like a traditional credit card, but it’s designed only for healthcare providers in their network. Patients can apply online at CareCredit.com, by calling the customer service phone number, or directly in their provider’s office.

If approved, the patient gets a reusable line of credit that can cover vet bills, dental work, vision exams, prescriptions, and more. The big draw? CareCredit offers promotional financing, often with interest-free periods of 6, 12, or 24 months.

There is a catch, however. If the borrower doesn’t pay the balance in time, deferred interest kicks in, and they could end up with interest rates as high as 26–32%. Patients also face possible late fees and the impact of a hard credit check during approval.

For practices, the CareCredit card is appealing because it’s accepted at over 250,000 healthcare providers (including 75% of U.S. veterinary clinics). That makes it an easy yes for patients who already have the card in their wallet.

Highlights of CareCredit

• Works like a credit card with a reusable credit line
  
• Accepted at 250,000+ healthcare providers including most veterinary clinics
  
• Offers promotional financing with interest-free periods (6–24 months)
  
• Risk of deferred interest and high interest charges if not paid in full on time
  
• Requires credit approval with a hard credit check

What is Scratchpay?

Scratchpay got its start helping pet parents manage unexpected veterinary expenses. Over time, it’s grown into a flexible financing option beyond the veterinary world that some dental and mental health providers now accept too. 

Unlike a credit card, Scratchpay offers one-time installment loans. Patients apply online or over the phone, often getting results instantly with just a soft credit check. Loan amounts range from about $35 up to $10,000, and repayment happens through predictable monthly payments between 12 and 36 months.

Patients appreciate that Scratchpay doesn’t add hidden fees, prepayment penalties, or an annual fee, but it does rely on a deferred interest structure that can be costly if balances aren’t paid in time. Its network is also smaller than CareCredit’s, and each new bill requires a separate application. For practices, Scratchpay remains a straightforward way to extend flexible financing without taking on the burden of managing in-house billing.

Highlights of Scratchpay

• Best known for veterinary care but expanding into human healthcare
  
• Provides one-time installment loans up to $10,000
  
• Quick mobile application with a soft credit check
  
• Options for interest-free plans and fixed monthly payments
  
• No hidden fees, annual fee, or prepayment penalties

Scratchpay vs CareCredit: Side-by-Side

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Other Financing Alternatives

Although CareCredit and Scratchpay are among the most familiar names in healthcare financing, they’re far from the only options available. Depending on a patient’s situation — or a practice’s needs — other solutions may offer more flexible payment plans, lower costs, or higher approval rates for those with varying credit scores. 

Cherry – Flexible BNPL for Healthcare & Wellness

Cherry has quickly become one of the most attractive financing options for both patients and practices. Unlike a credit card, Cherry works as a “buy now, pay later” solution designed specifically for medical, wellness, and veterinary settings. Patients can apply in just 60 seconds through a simple online form and receive an instant approval decision with only a soft credit check — so there’s no impact on their credit score.

Qualified borrowers can access true 0% APR financing with no deferred interest traps or other hidden fees like prepayment penalties. Loan amounts extend up to $50,000 ($35,000 for veterinary care) and patients can choose the payment plans that best fit their medical treatment or pet needs.  

For practices, Cherry provides big advantages over traditional financing providers. Merchant fees are on average 50% lower, enhancing cash flow and encouraging growth. Practices are also funded upfront, so they don’t carry the burden of repayment risk. Plus, Cherry offers practice-specific financing, meaning that the patient must use their funds at the practice where they applied for them. 

Highlights of Cherry

• 60-second application with instant approval decision
  
• Soft credit check — patients can prequalify without hurting their credit score
  
• True 0% APR financing for qualified borrowers
  
• Loan amounts up to $50,000 with customizable installments
  
• Practices funded upfront; patients repay over time
  
• Merchant fees average 50% lower than other providers
  
• Offers practice-specific financing tailored to patient and provider needs
  
• No hidden fees, prepayment penalties, or annual fee

VetBilling

Some practices prefer to handle financing in-house rather than relying entirely on third-party providers. VetBilling makes that possible by giving veterinary clinics the ability to create their own customized payment plans for clients. Practices can decide on the length of the plan, set the size of installments, and even require a down payment to reduce risk. Payments are automatically withdrawn from the client’s bank account, which makes it easier to avoid missed payments and eliminates the awkwardness of collection calls.

The biggest advantage of VetBilling is flexibility — it doesn’t require credit checks, so even pet owners who don’t qualify for a CareCredit card or Scratchpay loan can still set up a plan. The drawback is that the practice carries the financial risk if a client defaults, though many clinics find the tradeoff worthwhile to increase access to care and strengthen client loyalty.

Highlights of VetBilling

• Practices create fully customizable installments and terms
  
• No credit approval required for clients
  
• Payments processed with automatic withdrawals
  
• Practices may require a down payment to reduce risk
  
• Repayment risk falls on the practice, not a third party

Personal Loans

Some patients choose to finance care through a personal loan from a bank, credit union, or online lender. These loans can be a good option for covering larger veterinary bills or more expensive medical care procedures. A personal loan typically comes with fixed installments and a predictable repayment schedule, usually ranging from 12 to 60 months. That stability can be reassuring compared to revolving debt on a credit card.

However, approval depends heavily on eligibility factors like income, debt-to-income ratio, and credit score. Interest rates vary widely—from single digits for those with excellent credit to much higher for those with weaker profiles. Some lenders also charge origination fees, which means patients may face upfront costs just to secure the loan.

Highlights of Personal Loans

• Fixed installments and predictable repayment schedule
  
• Loan amounts often range from $1,000–$50,000+
  
• Rates depend on credit approval and credit checks
  
• May include hidden fees or origination charges
  
• Best suited for larger expenses or planned procedures

Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)

Using a standard credit card — whether Visa, Mastercard, or American Express — is one of the most common ways people pay for vet bills or unexpected medical care. Cards are widely accepted by most healthcare providers and veterinary clinics, and some offer promotional financing, such as a temporary interest-free period on new purchases. Rewards programs can also add value for patients who pay off balances quickly.

The downside is the risk of high interest rates and late fees once promotional periods end. Patients who don’t pay their balances in full may find themselves stuck with steep interest charges and reduced credit limit flexibility. While credit cards can be convenient, they’re rarely the most cost-effective financing option.

Highlights of Credit Cards

• Widely accepted for both pet care and medical care
  
• May include promotional financing or rewards programs
  
• High interest rates after promo period ends
  
• Possible annual fee and late fees
• Carrying balances may affect a patient’s credit score

Sunbit

Originally developed for auto repair financing, Sunbit has become a recognizable name in the world of healthcare, especially for patients who may not qualify for traditional credit cards or other financing options. One of Sunbit’s main appeals is its focus on accessibility—  it often approves applicants with lower credit scores, which can make it easier for more patients to move forward with care. The application process is fast, typically taking only a few minutes with an instant decision, and it uses a soft credit check during the initial step so patients can check their eligibility without hurting their credit profile.

Patients can finance up to $20,000, which is higher than some other financing providers. Payments are broken into manageable installments, and while Sunbit does allow early repayment without prepayment penalties, some of its offers rely on deferred interest models. That means if a patient doesn’t pay the balance off in time, steep interest charges can apply retroactively — similar to how the CareCredit card works.

For practices, Sunbit provides upfront funding but at a higher cost than competitors. Merchant fees are typically higher than what providers pay with options like Cherry. For some clinics, the higher fees are offset by the increased approval rates, but others may prefer a mix of true 0% APR financing, lower merchant fees, and no deferred interest traps. 

Highlights of Sunbit

• Focuses on applicants with lower credit scores
  
• Funding limit up to $20,000, higher than most financing providers
  
• Uses deferred interest — patients must pay off on time to avoid retroactive interest charges
  
• Practices get paid upfront, but practice fees may be higher than other options
  
• Flexible installments with no prepayment penalties on early payoff

Crowdfunding (GoFundMe, Waggle)

When traditional financing isn’t available, some patients and pet parents turn to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or Waggle. These tools allow families to raise money quickly from friends, family, and even strangers for urgent emergency pet care or unexpected medical costs. Unlike loans or credit cards, crowdfunding doesn’t require repayment and avoids interest charges altogether.

That said, crowdfunding is far from guaranteed. Success depends entirely on community support, and campaigns may not raise enough to cover the full cost of care. For practices, recommending crowdfunding can feel like a compassionate option in emergencies, but it’s not a sustainable or predictable financing strategy.

Highlights of Crowdfunding

• Best for one-time emergencies or urgent needs
  
• No credit checks, interest rates, or repayment required
  
• Dependent on donations; success not guaranteed
  
• Can provide relief in crisis situations

Final Thoughts: CareCredit vs Scratchpay

When it comes to choosing between Scratchpay and CareCredit, the right answer depends on what you value most. Scratchpay offers simple installments with clear terms and no hidden fees, making it a great fit for one-time veterinary bills or smaller medical care costs. CareCredit, on the other hand, acts like a reusable healthcare credit card that can cover a wide range of ongoing expenses — but patients need to be careful about deferred interest and high interest rates if balances aren’t paid off in time.

For practices that want to give patients another option, Cherry financing provides the best of both worlds. With true 0% APR financing for qualified borrowers, a 60-second application with a soft credit check, and practice-specific financing, Cherry helps patients say “yes” to care while keeping merchant fees lower and funding delivered upfront.

Ready to see why 40,000 practices already use Cherry? Explore how tailored payment plans can help you make essential care accessible for every patient while encouraging practice growth. Claim your complimentary demo today.