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Unsecured medical loans:
- Can be used to finance all or part of your procedure, including whatever insurance does not cover
- Usually require a minimum credit score of 620
- Do not require collateral and therefore have a higher interest rate (unlike secured loans, such as a home equity loan)
- Will impact your credit
- Can be obtained through brokers, direct lenders, or by getting a credit card with a high enough limit
Read and click the sections below for everything you need to know about getting an unsecured weight loss surgery loan.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click on any of the topics below to jump directly to that section
- Definition
- Before You Apply
- How to Get a Loan
- Downsides
- 3 Loan Avenues
- Broker Options
- Lender Options
- Credit Card Options
- Find a Weight Loss Surgeon
SECTION SUMMARY:
- Collateral is NOT required to “back up” the loan if you fail to pay it off
- Lender takes extra risk that you may default, so interest rates are higher
These types of medical loans are called "unsecured" not because they are unsafe for you but because you do not put up collateral to "secure" (back up) the loan in case of default.
After approving your application, your lender of choice will pay your doctor’s office directly and up-front for the entire amount of the surgery and after care. Your approval or denial and loan terms (length of loan, monthly payments, interest rate, minimum and maximum loan amount, etc.) will vary by lender and will be based on your credit score, employment status and income.
Because lenders charge an interest rate on unsecured medical loans, find out first whether your doctor’s practice will finance you directly. Getting a payment plan set up directly through your doctor is better for a few reasons:
- Doctors typically charge little or no interest and often do not charge any additional fees
- They are likely to be much more flexible than banks and credit card companies
- Being late on a payment probably won’t effect your credit score
However, doctors aren’t in the business of lending money, so don’t be surprised if they won’t agree to offer direct financing.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- Learn your credit score and what is affecting it
- How much can you afford to pay per month?
- Be prepared to choose the option with lowest long-term cost (not lowest cost per month)
First, note that your credit report and score will affect both the types of unsecured medical loans available to you and the rate you are charged. Learning what your credit score is before applying for a loan and which factors (if any) are bringing down your score can help you figure out:
- How likely you are to get approved (a score of 620 is typically the lowest score allowed in order to get approved for a regular loan)
- How competitive your rate is likely to be (the higher your credit, the lower your rate)
- Whether any items on your credit report are inaccurate or could be removed to improve your score (i.e. contact an old lender to dispute late payments or request their removal of a late payment – some lenders will allow a "goodwill" removal of a late payment on a one-time basis)
Before proceeding further, also consider the following:
- How much can you afford to pay per month? The more you can afford to pay up front and each month starting in month one, the less you’ll pay over the long term. But don’t extend yourself so far that you won’t be able to make the future minimum monthly payments.
- Be prepared to ask your broker or lender to map out in writing what your monthly payments will be under each option and what your total costs will be over the term of your loan. Figure out the same information for your credit card(s) (assume that you’ll pay off the credit card(s) in the same timeframe).
- At the end of the process discussed below, the option that costs you the least over the long term is the one you should go with (not the one with the lowest monthly payment).
SECTION SUMMARY:
- Get full price from surgeon
- Shop around for best deal
- Pick a broker, lender, or credit card
- Negotiate the terms, if possible (loan duration and rates)
- Make monthly payments until loan is paid off
Here’s how unsecured medical loans should work…
- After negotiating the packaged deal with your surgeon (cost for treatment and follow-up care), they tell you that they cannot finance you directly but they either already work with or are willing to work with companies who do (if they don’t bring it up, ask). When you receive financing through a third party, the doctor usually gets paid in full before surgery, although some arrangements pay the surgeon back over time.
IMPORTANT: Your doctor’s office may have a medical loan application ready to go, but this does not necessarily mean that the doctor’s office is the one financing you. Before signing anything, find out if the doctor’s office is actually the one financing your treatment. If they are using a third party, apply the information below to find out if there is a better deal elsewhere.
- Shop around for the best deal (we’ll help you figure this out below), and be sure to ask for enough credit to cover your entire treatment and aftercare.
- After you pick a broker/lender and a plan there are a few ways to apply for the loan, including completing the form at your doctor’s office or applying online (more on this below). You’ll typically receive a response from the lender within 30 minutes when applying online.
- Rates will be based on the term (length) of the loan and your credit score – the shorter the loan term and the better your credit, the lower your interest rate will be.
- You will continue making monthly payments until the loan is paid off.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- Your credit may be impacted
- Beware of “Interest-Free” or “0% Interest Rate” introductory offers
- Beware of “minimum payment” offer on your monthly bills
- If you get denied, find a co-signer
Before we review your unsecured medical loan options you should understand the potential hazards. If you have any questions, discuss them directly with the broker, lender or your doctor’s office…
Thinking About Surgery Outside the United States?
U.S.-based brokers and lenders will typically work with medical providers (doctors and hospitals) outside of the United States as long as the provider has a U.S. address or bank account.
See our Medical Tourism (Weight Loss Surgery Mexico & Abroad) page for more information about leaving the country for care.
- Unsecured Loans Impact Your Credit – Late payments or a loan default could affect the interest rates you pay on future loans, insurance premiums or even your ability to get a job or rent a home. See the FTC’s web site for more info about credit.
- Weight Loss Center Conflict of Interest – If your doctor already partners with a lender or broker, don’t automatically assume it’s the best. You may get a better deal elsewhere, and your surgeon’s office only has to fill out a form or two to become affiliated with a different lender.
Also ask your surgeon’s office whether any part of the financing arrangement they offer is controlled by them and up for negotiation. Some popular lenders leave some of the terms (i.e. additional fees) up to your doctor, so there may be room for negotiation.
If your doctor is absolutely not willing to work with any other lenders, you should be suspicious – they may have a financial incentive to work with their chosen lender. The lender you choose shouldn’t matter to them. After all, they usually get paid up front regardless of which lender you use.
If your surgeon’s deal is better than anything else you find, great! If not, they should understand your decision when you tell them what you were able to find elsewhere.
The Legality of Interest-Free & 0% Interest Rate Introductory Offers
The potentially deceptive use of interest-free and 0% financing has drawn the attention of the authorities.
Always pay extra attention to the fine print when considering these offers, which should read something like the following:
INITIAL DISCLOSURE 1: "Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the balance is not paid in full within the promotion period of 12, 18 or 24 months or you make a late payment or you are otherwise in default."
INITIAL DISCLOSURE 2: "Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the balance is not paid in full within the promotional period of XX months, if you make a late payment or you are otherwise in default."
SECONDARY DISCLOSURE EXAMPLE: "Check with your doctor to see which plans are available. Available for purchases of $300.00 or more. Interest will accrue during the promotional period at an APR of 24.75% to 27.99 % (depending on creditworthiness). Your actual APR will be stated at the time of purchase. A Penalty Rate of 29.99% will be applicable if your minimum payment is not received within 60 days of the due date if stated at the time of purchase. Due Date Change Fee $15. Minimum finance charge $.50. See your Purchase Acknowledgement and [LENDER NAME] Revolving Account Agreement for more information about this Promotion. Please read that material carefully."
- Introductory & Interest-Free Offers and the Fine Print – You may be able to get a 0% interest rate to start out, but understand that it won’t last forever. Find out when the low interest rate expires (“introductory
term”) and what the new interest rate will be when it does. Also ask if there is any way that the rate could go up before the end of the introductory term.
For example, some lenders will increase your rate to as high as 30% if you are late on a payment. The interest rates will also increase after the introductory term is over.
In addition, some introductory offers will exclude certain services from your doctor, leaving you with a higher rate for those services. Could it be better for you to pass on the “No Interest Plan” and jump right into their normal "fixed rate" plan? - Beware of the "minimum payment" offer on your monthly bills. If you only pay the minimum payment instead of the total monthly amount due, you will owe more when the introductory term expires (if there is one) and you could
end up paying much more over the long run.
Before moving forward, be sure you can afford to make the full "amount due" payment each month. If you get denied – find out if the broker or lender will accept co-signers. Some allow either friends and family to attach their name to a loan while others only allow family members.
The fine print bottom line? Before financing bariatric surgery through any lender, get all of the details up front, ask questions about anything you don’t understand and choose the option with the lowest long-term costs (not the lowest monthly payment) that fits your budget.
Ready to review your options for unsecured medical loans? First, there are a few more things to understand.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- Brokers are “middle men” that can help you find a lender or get a better deal
- Lenders are the institutions that lend you the money
- Credit cards usually have higher interest rates
- There are pros and cons to each
- Apply for a loan using all 3 avenues, then choose the best deal
The 3 primary avenues available when applying for unsecured medical loans are:
- Through a broker who shops multiple lenders for you and presents you with the best deal they can find
- Directly through the lenders
- Credit cards
Here are the pros and cons of each…
Comparing Brokers, Lenders, & Credit Cards
Tap here to expand a table comparing brokers, lenders, & credit cards.
Unsecured Medical Loans Direct through Lenders | Unsecured Medical Loans through Brokers | Credit Cards | |
---|---|---|---|
Additional broker fees | No | Yes ($100 to $3,000+ over term of contract) | No |
Who must spend time to find best deal? | You | Broker | You |
Help finding options with low credit | No additional help | Will help find a deal | No additional help |
Ulterior motives? | No | Possilbe (may be receiving incentives to recommend one lender over another – ask them to share all of the deals they find in writing rather than only presenting the “best” option) | No |
Do you already have access to some/all of the funds? | No | No | Possibly, depending on your current credit card limit(s) and balance(s) |
As you can see, there are compelling reasons for each. You’re only going to know that you’re getting the best deal if you work with a broker, take the time to work through individual lenders, AND take the time to call each of your credit card companies (or contact new ones).
And don’t be afraid to negotiate. Sharing the deal you secured through a different lender may lead to a lower interest rate.
If you don’t want to take the time to contact multiple lenders or learn all of the financial ins and outs, use a broker.
Now that you know the facts and pitfalls, you’re ready to apply for a loan via your broker or lender of choice or to contact your credit card companies to negotiate your rates and/or apply for an increase to your limit. Click the sections below for more information.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- myMedicalLoan.com
- Medical Financing Solutions
- United Medical Credit
Each of the three most popular broker options have a unique set of rules and requirements.
Broker Options
Tap here to expand a table comparing your broker options.
Company | myMedicalLoan.com | Medical Financing Solutions | United Medical Credit |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Credit Score | None – If patient does not meet their lender partners’ minimum credit requirements, patient can be enrolled in myMedicalLoan’s proprietary No Patient Left Behind program.* | 620 | None |
Co-signer allowed? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Available Credit | $1,500 to $25,000 | $500 to $25,000 for credit scores over 680 $ 500 to $5,500 loan maximum for credit scores between 620 and 680 | $1,000 to $35,000 |
Number of Lenders Used | 10 | 2 | Not disclosed |
Broker Fee | Between $300 and $1,200 – depends on loan amount and credit score. | $199 | Only disclosed after submitting application |
Broker Fee Payment Method | Fees are built into the interest rate charged (wrapped into monthly payments). Remember: brokers’ negotiated savings could offset their fees, so don’t make your decision solely on this factor. | Fees are built into the interest rate charged (wrapped into monthly payments). Remember: brokers’ negotiated savings could offset their fees, so don’t make your decision solely on this factor. | Fees are built into the interest rate charged (wrapped into monthly payments). Remember: brokers’ negotiated savings could offset their fees, so don’t make your decision solely on this factor. |
Lowest Interest Rate Available | 9.90% | 9.90% | Not disclosed |
Response to: “Why should a patient choose you over another option?” | “Because no patient is left behind. We’re in the business to find patients a loan no matter what. A normal lender is just a single source company and patients must fit their criteria. With us, we’ll run your credit once and shop 10 lenders. If we can’t find a loan, patients are enrolled in our ‘No Patient Left Behind’ program (assuming your surgeon agrees to the terms*).” | “We charge lower fees than our competition and work with two competitive banks – a local Kansas City Bank and a national bank.” | “We offer financing options to individuals with good, sub-par and no credit… apply with a co-signer to strengthen your application. No matter what kind of treatment you need or what kind of financial situation you’re in, we want to help you finance your healthcare procedures.” |
Links to applications | myMedicalLoan application | Medical Financing Solutions application | United Medical Credit Application |
Disclaimers: Above terms and information are subject to change. Confirm with broker and lender before proceeding. Bariatric Surgery Source is not responsible for interactions with any external company.
Any plans that include “No Interest” or “0% Interest”” provisions cannot legally use these terms without appropriate disclosures. . In addition to other disclosures, all information (including their marketing materials) should include something similar to the following: “Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the balance is not paid in full within the promotion period of 12, 18 or 24 months or you make a late payment or you are otherwise in default” or “Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the balance is not paid in full within the promotional period of XX months, if you make a late payment or you are otherwise in default.” For more information, click here.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- CareCredit
- Lending Tree
- Prosper Lending
- Reliance Medical Finance
- Credit Medical Corp. (Canada Only)
Each lender company has their own set of unique rules and requirements. Use the table below to learn more about your options.
Lender Options
Tap here to expand a table comparing your lender options.
Company | CareCredit | Lending Tree | Prosper Lending | Reliance Medical Finance | Credit Medical Corp. (Canada) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plan Names | 2 Options: (1) No Interest (2) Low Fixed Interest | 1 Option: Low Interest Rate | 1 Option: Low Interest Rate | (1) Interest Free (2) Extended Plans | Minimum credit line of $1,000; Plans are specific to each applicant |
Terms | (1) 3, 6, 12 or 18 months (2) 24, 36, 48 or 60 months | Multiple | 3 or 5 years | (1) 3, 6 or 12 months (2) 12 to 60 months | Depends |
Interest Rate | (1) 0%(2) 13.9% | Depends | Depends | (1) 0% (2) starting at 6.9% (upper limit not available online) | Depends |
Fees & Penalties | May be assessed if: (a) balance is not paid in full by end of term, (b) any minimum monthly payments are missed or (c) your account balance exceeds your credit limit. | Not available online | Not available online | Not available online | Not available online |
Require surgeon to participate in their network (if your surgeon does not already belong, you can refer them through each company’s web site. See application links below) | Yes | No | No, but additional offers may be available through surgeon | Yes | Yes |
Pre-payment penalties (if you pay off the balance early) | No | Depends | No | No | No |
Links to fine print | CareCredit fine print | Lending Tree fine print | Prosper fine print | not available online | not available online |
Links to applications | CareCredit application | Lending Tree application | Prosper application | Reliance Medical Finance application | Credit Medical Corp. application (Canada) |
Disclaimer: Above terms and information are subject to change. Confirm with broker and lender before proceeding. Bariatric Surgery Source is not responsible for interactions with any external company.
Any plans that include “No Interest” or “0% Interest”” provisions cannot legally use these terms without appropriate disclosures. In addition to other disclosures, all information (including their marketing materials) should include something similar to the following: “Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the balance is not paid in full within the promotion period of 12, 18 or 24 months or you make a late payment or you are otherwise in default” or “Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the balance is not paid in full within the promotional period of XX months, if you make a late payment or you are otherwise in default.” For more information, click here.
SECTION SUMMARY:
- You can use your existing credit cards
- You may be able to negotiate new rates and limits
- You can research new credit cards
Pull out your credit cards, find the phone number on each, and call your current credit card companies. What is the interest rate they are currently offering? Are they willing to reduce it?
Explain to them what you are trying to do and how much you need to borrow. If you have good credit, they may bring the rate down as low as 12%.
If one of your credit cards has a better rate than your broker or individual lenders have provided, using it to pay your doctor may be the way to go.
However, keep your credit card limit in mind. The money you use to pay for your treatment will reduce the amount of credit you have available on that card for other expenses.
To research and apply for a new credit card, visit these pages:
SECTION SUMMARY:
- You can ask a local bariatric practice for a cost quote
- You should schedule a phone or in-person consultation (both often free), if you are interested in learning more about weight loss surgery