Medical Loans: Best Rates for September 2025

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Medical loan rates

Use real LendingTree marketplace data to see what kind of medical loan rates you could qualify for. 

Credit tierAverage APR
800 and above11.66%
740-79914.35%
670-73922.83%
580-66930.22%
Under 58032.09%
Source: LendingTree user data on closed personal loans for the second quarter of 2025. Limited to loan amounts of at least $5,000 and repayment terms of at least 24 months.

Track personal loan rates with LendingTree

Other than a few crests and valleys, personal loan rates have been steady over the last year.

The biggest winners lately seem to be borrowers with bad credit (below 580). Rates for this group of borrowers fell from June to August 2025, although they remain much higher than for those with better credit scores.

Line graph with personal loan rates by credit score for the past year

See how much you’ll pay for your medical loan

Best medical loan lenders with the lowest rates

BHG Financial: Expert pick for big medical loans

8.72% - 27.87%

36 to 120 months

$20,000 - $250,000

660

3.00% - 4.00%

Pros
  • Can borrow up to $250,000
  • Allows up to 120 months to repay
  • Accepts less-than-perfect credit
Cons
  • Only good for big medical bills, since the least you can borrow is $20,000
  • Will keep 3.00% - 4.00% of your loan as an origination fee
  • Can take up to five days to get your money

What to know

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If you’re looking for medical loans for a big medical expense, consider BHG Financial. This lender offers large loans and long repayment terms to match. 

A long repayment term can make a big loan more affordable because monthly payments are typically lower. In exchange, you’ll pay more total interest.

Although this lender accepts even “fair” credit, you won’t qualify for BHG’s biggest loans if you don’t have excellent credit. And if you plan on getting a large loan, BHG Financial’s origination fee can be steep. For instance, a $200,000 loan with an 4.00% origination fee means BHG will keep $8,000.

How to qualify

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To get a loan from BHG Financial, you’ll need to meet the following requirements: 

  • Administrative: Have a Social Security number and email address
  • Credit score: 660+

BHG Financial’s average borrower has a score of 744, no past bankruptcies or collections and an annual income of $241,000. Not all of BHG Financial’s loans, loan amounts, rates or terms are available in all states. 

LightStream: Expert pick for no fees

8.24% - 24.89% (with autopay)

24 to 84 months

Loan Term Disclosure

Your loan terms, including APR, may differ based on loan purpose, amount, term length, and your credit profile. Excellent credit is required to qualify for lowest rates. Rate is quoted with AutoPay discount. AutoPay discount is only available prior to loan funding. Rates without AutoPay are 0.50% points higher. Subject to credit approval. Conditions and limitations apply. Advertised rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Payment example: Monthly payments for a $25,000 loan at 6.49% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $766.11. © 2024 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, LightStream and the LightStream logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.

$5,000 - $100,000

Not specified

None

Pros
  • No fees
  • Has rate-matching program
  • Offers same-day loans
Cons
  • Must have good to excellent credit
  • Loans start at $5,000, which may be more than you need
  • No preapprovals

What to know

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LightStream offers online loans with no fees. It also has a rate-matching program called Rate Beat. If you get a better rate while you’re shopping around, LightStream might beat it by 0.10 percentage points.

Because of this, you may want to apply for a few other loans directly after accepting LightStream’s loan — try to do all the applications within 14 days so the hard-pull credit checks have the least impact on your credit score. 

If another company gives you a better rate, don’t accept it right away. Instead, send that loan offer to LightStream at least two days before it sends you your money. If the competitor’s offer qualifies, LightStream will beat its rate.

Note also that LightStream doesn’t have preapprovals or prequalifications for their loans. 

How to qualify

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LightStream doesn’t specify its exact credit score requirements, but you must have good to excellent credit to qualify. Most of the applicants that LightStream approves have the following in common: 

  • At least five years of on-time payments under a variety of accounts (credit cards, auto loans, etc.)
  • Stable income and can handle paying their current debt obligations
  • Savings, whether in a bank account, investment account or retirement account

LendingClub: Expert pick for small medical loans and low rates

3.99%-30.99%; 0% available

6 to 84 months

$500-$65,000

Not Specified

Not specified

Pros
  • Super low rates
  • 0% financing available
  • Loans start at $500, so could be ideal for smaller medical bills
Cons
  • Your doctor must be a member of the LendingClub Patient Solutions network

What to know

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LendingClub Patient Solutions isn’t a true personal loan. Instead, it’s a medical financing option. It partners with doctors and dentists to offer low-cost payment plans to eligible patients. You can borrow as little as $500, and 0% financing may be available. 

The obvious downside to LendingClub Patient Solutions is that it’s only available with select providers. Ask yours if it partners with LendingClub. You can also search for providers when you’re prequalifying on LendingClub Patient Solutions’ website. 

If your provider doesn’t participate, and you don’t need to borrow much, you can find small personal loans online instead. 

How to qualify

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LendingClub Patient Solutions doesn’t specify what credit score it requires, but you can check eligibility online. At minimum, you must meet the requirements below to qualify: 

  • Age: At least 18 years old
  • Administrative: Have a Social Security number, U.S. address and a valid government-issued ID

SoFi: Expert pick for fast medical loans

8.99%-35.49% (with discounts)

SoFi Pricing Disclosure

Fixed rates from 8.99% APR to 35.49% APR. APR reflects the 0.25% autopay discount and a 0.25% direct deposit discount. SoFi Platform personal loans are made either by SoFi Bank, N.A. or , Cross River Bank, a New Jersey State Chartered Commercial Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. SoFi may receive compensation if you take out a loan originated by Cross River Bank. These rate ranges are current as of 04/24/25 and are subject to change without notice. Not all rates and amounts available in all states. See SoFi Personal Loan eligibility details at https://www.sofi.com/eligibility-criteria/#eligibility-personal. Not all applicants qualify for the lowest rate. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including evaluation of your credit worthiness, income, and other factors. Loan amounts range from $5,000– $100,000. The APR is the cost of credit as a yearly rate and reflects both your interest rate and an origination fee of 9.99% of your loan amount for Cross River Bank originated loans which will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive and for SoFi Bank originated loans have an origination fee of 0%-7%, will be deducted from any loan proceeds you receive.

Autopay: The SoFi 0.25% autopay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. Autopay is not required to receive a loan from SoFi.

Direct Deposit Discount: To be eligible to receive an additional (0.25%) interest rate reduction on your Personal Loan (your “Loan”), you must set up Direct deposit with a SoFi Checking and Savings account offered by SoFi Bank, N.A., or enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee, all within 30 days of the funding of your Loan. Once eligible, you will receive this discount during periods in which you have enabled Direct Deposit to an eligible Direct Deposit Account in accordance with SoFi’s reasonable procedures and requirements to be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion, or during periods in which SoFi successfully receives payment of the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. This discount will be lost during periods in which SoFi determines you have turned off Direct Deposit to your Checking and Savings account or in which you have not paid for the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. You are not required to enroll in Direct Deposit or to pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee to receive a Loan.

24 to 84 months

$5,000-$100,000

680

0.00% - 7.00% (optional)

Pros
  • Can usually get loan the same day you’re approved
  • Offers free consultation with a financial planner
  • Customer support available via live chat
Cons
  • Must pay optional origination fee for the lowest rates
  • Doesn’t make sense for smaller medical bills
  • Won’t qualify with bad credit

What to know

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A quick loan can be a lifesaver if you need care urgently, like a sore tooth. That’s where SoFi might help. 

It states that from 2023 to 2024, 83% of SoFi borrowers got same-day funds on most types of loans. However, you have to apply before 6 p.m. EST on a weekday.

SoFi loans start at $5,000, so they won’t work for everyone. To qualify for its lowest rates, SoFi will also ask to keep a portion of your loan as an origination fee. Compare offers that do and don’t include an origination fee to see which one works best in your favor.

How to qualify

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You must meet the requirements below to get a loan from SoFi:

  • Age: Be the age of majority in your state (typically 18)
  • Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible permanent resident or a non-permanent resident (including DACA recipients and asylum seekers)
  • Employment: Have a job or job offer with a start date within 90 days, or have regular income from another source
  • Credit score: 680+

Upgrade: Expert pick for easier approvals with collateral

7.99%-35.99% (with discounts)

24 to 84 months

$1,000-$50,000

580

1.85% - 9.99%

Pros
  • It’s not required, but you can use collateral to help you get approved or a lower rate
  • Can add a second person to your loan
  • Can change your due date online or over the phone
Cons
  • Can probably find a lower rate with another lender if you have excellent credit
  • All loans have an origination fee
  • Can qualify with fair credit, but rate will be high

What to know

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Personal loan platform Upgrade offers both secured and unsecured loans. A secured loan requires collateral. With Upgrade, collateral is your car or, for eligible homeowners, your built-in cabinetry and light fixtures. 

Collateral can help make it easier to get approved or a lower rate, since it lowers the risk for the lender. If you fall too far behind, Upgrade can make up some of its losses by repossessing your collateral. 

Collateral or not, Upgrade isn’t typically the cheapest for those with stellar credit. Its minimum APR is 7.99%, and it charges an origination fee of 1.85% - 9.99% on every loan. Many lenders waive this fee if you have excellent credit.

How to qualify

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To qualify for a loan through Upgrade, you must meet the requirements below:

  • Age: Be at least 18 years old (19 in some states)
  • Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or live in the U.S. with a valid visa
  • Administrative: Have a valid bank account and email address
  • Credit score: 580+

Upstart: Expert pick for bad credit medical loans

6.70% - 35.99%

36 or 60 months

$1,000 - $75,000

300

0.00% - 12.00%

Pros
  • Has one of the lowest credit score requirements on the market
  • Eligible college students and grads don’t need credit to qualify
  • Also has low rates for excellent credit
Cons
  • Can’t apply with a second person
  • If you qualify with bad credit, you could get a rate as high as 35.99%
  • Only two choices of repayment terms (36 or 60 months)

What to know

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Upstart could be perfect if you have bad or no credit. It has an ultra-low 300 minimum credit score requirement, and if you have at least an associate degree, you might not need credit at all. The same applies to current college students.

Getting a medical loan with bad credit has its downsides. Between higher rates and origination fees, borrowing will be expensive. Be sure to have a plan to pay back what you borrow before signing your loan agreement.

How to qualify

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Upstart has transparent eligibility requirements, including:

  • Age: Be 18 or older
  • Administrative: Have a U.S. address, personal banking account, email address and Social Security number
  • Income: Have a valid source of income, including a job, job offer or another regular income source
  • Credit-related factors: No bankruptcies within the last three years, reasonable number of recent inquiries on your credit report and no current delinquencies
  • Credit score: 300+ (unless you’re an eligible college student or graduate, in which case Upstart could approve you with no credit)

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What LendingTree users are saying

What is a medical loan?

A medical loan is a personal loan that you use for medical-related expenses. If you’ve never gotten a personal or medical loan before, here’s what to know first:

 You’ll get a lump sum of cash if approved, usually through direct deposit. 
 Personal loans have fixed interest rates, so your payment will be the same each month. 
 Personal loan rates are usually lower than credit card rates if you have excellent credit. 

What medical loans can cover

When you’re facing a medical emergency, the last thing you need is extra worry about how to cover the costs. People often turn to medical loans for: 

  • Hospital and rehab bills
  • Illnesses and injuries
  • IVF
  • Elective surgeries
  • Lasik eye surgery
  • Dental work
  • Deductibles and copays
  • Prescriptions

Can you get a medical loan with bad credit?

Yes, it’s possible to get a bad credit medical loan. Although most medical loan lenders require good credit (or a 670+ FICO Score), some lenders specialize in bad credit loans. Upstart is an example.

If you qualify but rates are too high, you could lower them by: 

  • Adding a co-borrower: You could add a second person to your application and take out a joint loan. Keep in mind, though, that both your and your co-borrower’s credit will take a hit if you fall behind on your payments.
  • Choosing a secured loan: A secured loan requires collateral, usually a valuable asset like your car. Because the lender can repossess your collateral if you stop paying, it might be more willing to offer you a loan.

How to save money on medical expenses

You can have great health insurance and still end up with medical debt. Here are some ways you can shave down your out-of-pocket medical expenses:

Look for billing errors. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS), 7.66% of Medicare payments are coded incorrectly, leading to more than $31 billion in improper payments.

See what’s covered. For instance, before you buy a medical device, find out if your insurance will pay for it. If your insurance doesn’t cover it, consider renting the equipment instead of buying. 

Stay in network. Deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses are higher when you’re out of network.

Why get a medical loan instead of using a credit card?

Ask the author: When would you choose a medical loan over a credit card?

Carol Pope LendingTree Senior writer, personal and auto loans

Carol Pope

Senior writer, personal and auto loans

“If I needed years to repay, I’d choose a medical loan over a credit card. A 0% intro APR card only makes sense if I could pay it off within the promo period.

I’d never carry a large balance on a traditional card — compounding interest makes debt balloon fast.”

Personal loan interest is calculated at the start of your loan. As long as you stick to your payment schedule, the amount of interest you owe will shrink and not grow. 

When you carry a balance from month to month on a credit card, interest compounds. Credit card issuers calculate how much interest you owe every day, and then it adds that to your total balance. In other words, you pay interest on your interest. 

To get an idea of what payments are like for a particular medical loan, you can use our personal loan calculator.

Did you know?

The average credit card interest rate as of August 2025 was 24.35%. By comparison, the average personal loan rate finalized on the LendingTree marketplace in the second quarter of 2025 was 14.35% for people with 740-799 credit. 

Even if credit card interest didn’t compound, that whopping ten percentage point difference could save you thousands over time.

Medical loan pros and cons

There are a lot of ways to finance medical expenses. Reviewing the pros and cons of medical loans can help you decide if this particular option is right for you. 

ProsCons

 Interest doesn’t rack up as quickly as it would on a credit card

 Rates are usually lower than cards if you have excellent credit

 Can be easier to budget for, since monthly payments stay the same

 Might not be best if you don’t know exactly how much a medical procedure will cost

 Can come with origination fees

 No credit card rewards or promotions

Do medical bills affect your credit?

Yes, unpaid medical bills can affect your credit score in some cases, but it’s complicated. 

In January 2025, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ruled that all medical debt be removed from credit reports

But in July 2025, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the CFPB didn’t have the legal authority to make such a change. That means medical debt can currently be included on credit reports, although consumers have some protections.

The three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) removed all medical debt under $500 from credit reports in 2023. They continue to exclude medical debt in collections under $500. You also have one year to pay your medical debt before it will show on your credit report. 

However, it’s important to note that medical debt is the money you owe to your provider, not medical loan debt. Medical loan debt is personal loan debt. If this type of debt is sent to collections, it can appear on your report for up to seven years.

Alternatives to medical loans

If you have a chronic condition and know you’ll need to borrow more than once, a personal loan won’t make sense, since it comes as a lump sum. The same is true if you don’t have a firm price tag in mind. 

Consider all of your medical financing options before signing on the dotted line.
  

 CareCredit®

Best for ongoing expenses if your credit isn’t perfect — as long as you can pay off the balance during the intro period.

CareCredit® could make sense if you’ll need money now and in the future. CareCredit® is a credit card specifically for medical, dental and vet expenses. It comes with an interest-free financing option between 6 and 24 months.

However, CareCredit® also has deferred interest. If you don’t pay your balance in full by the end of the promotional period, your interest will be backdated to the time you made the charge. 

Still, CareCredit may be easier to qualify for than a 0% APR intro credit card. 

 0% APR intro credit card

Best for ongoing expenses if you have strong credit and can pay off the balance before the intro APR ends. 

Like CareCredit®, a 0% APR intro credit card can provide money over and over again. It, too, comes with a 0% APR intro period. However, if you have a remaining balance after the intro period, interest won’t backdate like with CareCredit® but just applies to the balance moving forward. 

 Medical financial assistance

Best if you’re lower income or uninsured and need or have received hospital care. 

The Affordable Care Act requires all nonprofit hospitals to provide financial assistance to those who qualify. This is called charity care. Each hospital sets its own eligibility requirements, but typically, you must be low income to qualify.

Your hospital’s billing department or a social worker can help you navigate charity care.

 In-house financing

Best if your provider offers their own medical financing option.

Your hospital’s billing department may be willing to negotiate a no-interest medical debt payment plan. These are sometimes available without any eligibility requirements. Even if you don’t qualify for charity care, a payment plan could still be an option.

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Accessibility

We look for lenders with fewer barriers to approval and award points for lower credit requirements, nationwide access, fast funding and simple applications.

Rates and terms

We prioritize lenders that offer low starting rates, minimal fees, flexible terms and APR discount opportunities.

Repayment experience

We choose lenders with strong reputations, convenient self-service tools, responsive support and borrower-friendly perks.

We reviewed more than 30 lenders that offer personal loans to determine the overall best eight lenders by these metrics. According to our systematic rating and review process, the best personal loans come from BHG Financial, LendingClub, LightStream, SoFi, Upgrade and Upstart.

Why trust our methodology?

Jessica Sain-Baird Senior managing editor and Certified Financial Education Instructor℠

Jessica Sain-Baird

Senior managing editor and Certified Financial Education Instructor℠

“Our writers and editors dig through the facts, contact lenders directly and even go through the application process ourselves if it helps better explain what you can expect. As a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, I’m committed to breaking down complex financial details so people can make confident, informed decisions with their money.”

 

Jessica’s experience in editing and financial education helps shape LendingTree articles that are clear, accurate and truly useful to readers. Her certification means our recommendations are built on a foundation of consumer-first financial knowledge — not just numbers.

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Frequently asked questions

A medical loan comes as a lump sum. The lender will send you the money directly, and you’ll use the money to pay your medical debt or medical-related expenses. 
 
Some lenders charge an origination fee. Usually, this is a percentage of what you borrowed. The lender typically takes your origination fee out of your loan before sending it to you. That means you might end up needing to borrow more to make up for the difference. 
 
You will pay what you owe each month, including principal (what you actually borrowed) plus interest and fees, which are worked into your monthly payments. It varies loan to loan, but you usually get 1 to 5 (or more) years to pay off a personal loan. 

You usually need a credit score of at least 670 to get competitive rates, but that doesn’t mean you can’t qualify for a medical loan with a lower score. Each lender sets its own requirements.
 
LightStream, for instance, only accepts good to excellent credit. On the other hand, you can qualify for Upstart with a credit score as low as 300. It also waives its credit score requirements for eligible college students and grads.
 
When you have very good credit (740+), you have a good chance of getting a lender’s lowest rates. Either way, LendingTree has the largest lender network in the country. Instead of filling out forms one by one, let us do the shopping for you. 

For credit scores, most medical loan lenders require at least fair credit (580+) to qualify and good credit (670+) to get the cheaper rates. You could expect a lender’s best rates with excellent credit (740+), but it also depends on other factors like your income and credit history. 
 
You can still qualify for a medical loan with a lower score, but rates may be high. Most financial experts agree that APRs above 36% could be considered predatory lending. All of the lenders on this list of medical loans cap their rates at 35.99% or lower.