---
title: "What Is Patient financing? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "Patient financing is a loan, credit card or payment plan, offered by the practice or a third party, that lets a patient pay for treatment over time."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/patient-financing
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Finance and valuation

# Patient financing

Patient financing is a loan, credit card or payment plan, offered by the practice or a third party, that lets a patient pay for treatment over time.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that some health care providers offer financing options, including medical credit cards or payment plans that allow payment in installments. It says there are risks and costs with these options and advises patients to ask about financial assistance and what insurance covers before agreeing to a plan. For a dental practice, financing is often discussed after the [case presentation](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/case-presentation) and may be handled by a [treatment coordinator](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/treatment-coordinator). The ADA advises discussing financial details in private. A practice should give patients clear written terms and let them compare. Legal questions about lending rules belong with an attorney.

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Treatment coordinator](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/treatment-coordinator)
-   [Case acceptance](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/case-acceptance)
-   [In-house membership plan](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/in-house-membership-plan)
-   [Fee schedule](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/fee-schedule)

## Sources

1.  [CFPB, What should I know about medical credit cards and payment plans for medical bills?](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-know-about-medical-credit-cards-and-payment-plans-for-medical-bills-en-1827/)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)