How a Personal Loan can Help Cover your Medical Expenses

If your resources and health insurance policies are insufficient to pay your medical expenses, a personal loan may be your only option.

If you cannot pay medical expenses, one alternative is to take out a personal loan to cover your medical emergency visits, medical procedures, or hospital stays. Medical care can put anybody in a financial bind, which is understandable considering the skyrocketing cost.

You can save money while paying off your medical bills ¹by choosing the right loan. Nobody wants to spend more money on health care than is absolutely necessary.

5 Loan Options to Assist with Medical Expenses

Taking out a loan might be a matter of consideration, but the expense of not paying your medical costs can ruin your credit score. Which loans are the best for covering medical costs?

1. Medical Loan

Medical loans² are personal loans designed to assist individuals in paying for medical operations and other medical expenditures, such as prescription medications and specific medical devices. In Australia, dental bills are also covered by medical loans. When approved for a medical loan, the funds are used to pay for medical or dental expenses.

Most lenders have varying eligibility requirements, and some offer 12- to 24-month interest-free payment options. Certain healthcare providers may also negotiate a reduction if you can pay in a flat amount. Determine your choices before obtaining a medical loan.

2. Personal Loan

Consolidating medical debt into a personal loan provides you with some breathing room. Instead of a “now” due date, you may pay in monthly payments over a few years. The lender will make a lump sum payment to you, and interest will begin collecting immediately.

Personal loans may be the best option for those who know how much money they need, but they come with hefty interest rates. However, even with interest, a personal loan may be less expensive than the costs charged by a medical provider if late fees and other penalties are included in.

If you cannot get an unsecured personal loan, you may choose to consider a secured personal loan, commonly referred to as a collateral loan. A collateral loan³ is secured by personal assets such as vehicles, residences, or savings accounts that the lender may seize and use to repay the debt in the event of failure.

Bad credit might mean you pay over the odds for the loan you need. If you apply directly to a lender you run the risk of being rejected and a negative note being left on your credit file. Websites such as Now Loan offer loans for all types of credit including bad credit and can confirm which lenders will say yes without affecting your credit score.

3. Line of Credit Personal Loan

Instead of receiving a single flat payout, a lender will authorize you for a certain amount that you may draw from on-demand. You’ll pay interest solely on withdrawals and on the amount borrowed. This may be a viable alternative if you are already incurring medical bills.

Certain online lenders offer affordable interest rates if you have a good credit score, while others charge no fees at all, depending on the amount borrowed. Conduct research and locate the best lender for this kind of loan.

4. Home Equity Loan / Line of Credit Home Loan

If you have sufficient equity in your home, you may combine all of your loans into one substantial payment rather than paying them down in smaller instalments. This helps you save money on interest rates while also simplifying your finances.

If you have sufficient equity in your home, you can consolidate all your obligations into a single substantial instalment rather than paying them off in smaller instalments. This enables you to save money on interest and streamline your finances.

Bear in mind that taking out a home equity loan also increases your debt, which affects your repayments. Additionally, you must pay the various fees and penalties connected with the loan. Unnecessary equity access may further bury you in debt, so you must exercise caution in determining whether to do so.

Obtaining a home equity loan is not without its difficulties, and it may place you in a worse financial condition if the cash you used does not increase in value. However, there is a significant caveat: If you fall behind on payments, you risk losing your house.

5. Bad Credit Loans

When you ask for a loan, lenders will examine your credit score and credit history to assess how risky lending you money is for them. If you have bad credit and want a loan, you may need to focus your search on lenders specializing in lending to those with low credit. Secured loans (backed by collateral such as a house or vehicle) or unsecured loans are available. Rates, fees, and periods for these sorts of loans vary according to the lender.

Specific lenders have more rigorous standards than others, so it’s essential to search for the best deal. Even if you have poor credit, it is possible to get a loan. While your credit score will prevent you from obtaining a favourable annual percentage rate, you may still find far lower rates than those offered by credit cards or payday lenders.

Key Takeaways

Taking out loans might be an efficient way to fund your medical bills while dealing with the stress of a health problem. Assess your financial situation⁴ and look for affordable monthly payments. This may require extending the loan term in certain instances, and that’s okay. 

FAQs

1. From where can one opt for medical loans?

Ans. There are many banks and NBFCs that offer medical loans to the patient party in times of emergency. This loan generally does not need any security, it is given based on one’s credit score, profile, occupation, and repayment capacity.

2. Being a doctor, how much personal can I opt for?

Ans. Upto Rs. 50 lakh a doctor can opt for a personal loan.

3. Can I have insurance for a personal loan?

Ans. Yes, one can opt for insurance for a personal loan. This will basically help the borrower’s family in case of any financial distress like death or permanent incapacity.

1. Cunningham, Peter J. “Trade-offs getting tougher: problems paying medical bills increase for US Families, 2003–2007.” Track Rep 21.1 (2008): 5. ↩︎
2. Seidman, Laurence S. “Medical loans and major-risk national health insurance.” Health Services Research 12.2 (1977): 123. ↩︎
3. Berger, Allen N., and Gregory F. Udell. “Collateral, loan quality and bank risk.” Journal of Monetary Economics 25.1 (1990): 21-42. ↩︎
4. Williams, Valerie F., et al. “Validity of a subjective financial situation measure to assess socioeconomic status in US young adults.” Journal of Public Health Management and Practice 23.5 (2017): 487-495. ↩︎

Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by ayeshayusuf