Do healthcare practices pay different card fees?

Costs depend on how you accept cards, not on the type of practice alone. Your statement and agreement show what applies.

Can I store patient cards for payment plans?

Many systems support this. Ask how it works, what it costs and how card data is protected.

Does this guide cover health privacy rules?

No. It covers card processing only. Talk to your compliance advisor about health privacy.

Industry GuidesNovember 6, 20265 min read

Healthcare Practice Card Processing: A Plain Guide

Medical, dental and wellness practices take patient payments at the front desk, by phone and online. Here is what to check about cost, data handling and contracts.

By ONKORE TeamReviewed by ONKORE payments team

Illustration for Healthcare Practice Card Processing: A Plain Guide

Patient payments

Practices collect copays, balances and payments for services in person, by phone and through patient portals. Each channel can cost differently.

What to check

Channel mix. Front-desk card-present payments usually cost less than keyed or online ones. See the volume tier table.
Payment plans and stored cards. Ask how stored cards and recurring payments work, what they cost, and how failed payments are handled.
Card data handling. Using hosted payment pages or tokenization can reduce how much card data touches your systems. See PCI non-compliance fees.
Software integration. Ask whether your practice-management software works with the processor.
Contract terms. Check minimums, term and termination rules. See what to check before choosing a processor.

A note on compliance

Payment card rules and health privacy rules are separate. This guide covers card processing only, and does not replace advice from your compliance advisor.