CareCredit hardship program
Can a CareCredit Hardship Program Help With Credit Card Payments?
A CareCredit hardship program or other payment-assistance arrangement may be worth exploring when medical, dental, veterinary or other healthcare expenses have left you with a CareCredit balance that has become difficult to manage.
CareCredit is issued by Synchrony Bank. Although CareCredit does
not publicly advertise one universal hardship program with the same
terms for every cardholder, consumers having difficulty making
payments can contact CareCredit and ask what account-specific
assistance may currently be available.
If your CareCredit credit card debt is only one
portion of a larger debt problem, nonprofit credit counseling can
also help you review your other credit cards, household expenses
and overall repayment strategy.
Free initial consultation •
No new loan •
No obligation to enroll
WHY CONSUMERS TURN TO DEBTWAVE
Nonprofit Credit Counseling Since 2001
501(c)(3)
Nonprofit Organization
Since 2001
Helping Consumers
NFCC
Member Agency
No New Loan
Debt Management Option
CARECREDIT PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
How to Ask About a CareCredit Hardship Program
If you expect difficulty making your CareCredit payment, consider
contacting CareCredit before simply skipping the payment. Explain
what has changed financially and ask whether
CareCredit payment assistance, hardship assistance
or another repayment arrangement may be available.
Before calling, review your income, essential expenses and other
debt payments. Knowing what you can realistically afford may help
you evaluate any account-specific option that is offered.
CareCredit Cardholders
866-893-7864
CareCredit currently lists this number for existing
CareCredit cardholders.
Account-Specific Help
Back of Card
You can also use the customer-service number printed on
your CareCredit card or monthly billing statement.
Online Account Access
CareCredit / Synchrony
Sign in online to review your balance, promotional balances,
payment due date and current account terms.
CARECREDIT FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OPTIONS
How Does a CareCredit Hardship Program Work?
CareCredit does not publicly publish one standardized
CareCredit credit card hardship arrangement with
a guaranteed payment, interest rate or program duration for every
cardholder.
Instead, the assistance available may depend on your individual
account, payment status and financial circumstances. Contact
CareCredit directly and ask which options are currently available
for your account.
If an arrangement is offered, request the complete terms before
accepting it. In particular, ask whether the required payment,
APR, fees, account status or promotional financing terms will change.
Before accepting hardship assistance:
Ask about the required payment, APR, program duration, fees,
charging privileges and what happens to any existing CareCredit
promotional balances.
CARECREDIT HARDSHIP PROGRAM QUESTIONS
3 Questions to Ask About the CareCredit Hardship Program
A CareCredit payment plan could provide temporary
breathing room, but the details matter—especially when promotional
financing is involved.
1
What Will My New Payment Be?
Confirm the required payment, when it begins and whether it changes during or after the arrangement.
2
Will My APR or Fees Change?
Ask whether interest rates, late fees or other account terms change while you participate in the arrangement.
3
What Happens to My Promotional Balance?
If you have deferred-interest financing, confirm whether the hardship arrangement affects the promotional expiration date, accrued interest or payment allocation.IMPORTANT CARECREDIT FINANCING DETAILS
Understand CareCredit Deferred Interest Before Changing Payments
CareCredit is unusual among many credit cards because healthcare
purchases may qualify for promotional financing. Understanding
those terms is especially important when you are struggling to pay.
CareCredit currently offers qualifying purchases of $200 or more
deferred-interest promotional periods of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months.
These promotions are commonly described as
No Interest if Paid in Full.
However, this is not the same as a traditional 0% APR promotion.
Interest accrues from the original purchase date. If the qualifying
promotional balance is not completely paid by the promotional
expiration date, the accumulated interest can be charged to
the account.
PROMO
6–24 Month Deferred Interest
Qualifying purchases may receive deferred-interest periods of 6, 12, 18 or 24 months.
DEADLINE
Pay the Promo Balance in Full
The entire promotional balance generally must be paid by the expiration date to avoid the accrued promotional interest.
APR
Standard APR Can Be High
CareCredit currently discloses a 32.99% APR for new accounts. Existing cardholders should check their own agreement for the APR that applies to them.
Important:
Making only the minimum monthly payment may not pay off a
promotional balance before the promotion expires. Review your
statement for both the remaining promotional balance and its
expiration date.
COMPARE YOUR NEXT STEPS
Three Ways to Address CareCredit Debt
Your next step depends on your CareCredit balance, interest rate,
promotional financing, household budget and whether CareCredit is
your only significant credit card debt or one of several accounts.
1
Work Directly With CareCredit
If CareCredit is the primary account causing difficulty, contact CareCredit and ask whether account-specific payment assistance is available.
2
Pay the Balance Yourself
If your budget allows larger payments, calculate whether increasing your payment could eliminate the balance before a promotional deadline or reduce future interest costs. Calculate Your Payoff Time →
3
Review a Debt Management Program
If CareCredit is one of several high-interest credit cards, nonprofit credit counseling may provide a coordinated repayment strategy for eligible accounts.LOOK AT YOUR TOTAL CREDIT CARD DEBT
When a CareCredit Hardship Program May Not Be Enough
A CareCredit hardship program may improve one
payment without solving a larger household cash-flow problem.
You may also have balances with several other credit card companies.
In that situation, nonprofit credit counseling can help you
review eligible accounts together rather than addressing each
creditor separately.
✓ CareCredit
✓ Synchrony Bank
✓ Capital One
✓ Chase
✓ Citi
✓ Discover
✓ Bank of America
✓ Other Eligible Creditors
CARECREDIT DEBT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
CareCredit Hardship Program or a Debt Management Program?
If direct CareCredit hardship assistance does not
address your overall debt situation, nonprofit credit counseling
provides another repayment option to review.
CareCredit is issued by Synchrony Bank. Eligible Synchrony accounts
may be able to participate in a Debt Management Program, depending
on the individual account and current creditor guidelines.
Through a DMP, eligible participating creditors may provide
concessions such as reduced interest rates or payments. Qualifying
clients generally make one scheduled program payment, and the
counseling organization distributes funds to participating creditors.
A traditional Debt Management Program is not a new consolidation
loan. Instead, eligible debts are repaid through a structured
program without borrowing additional money.
CareCredit debt management program eligibility,
APRs, payments and other concessions depend on Synchrony's current
creditor guidelines and the individual account.
DEBTWAVE HISTORICAL SYNCHRONY ACCOUNT DATA
DebtWave's Experience With Synchrony Bank Accounts
Because CareCredit is issued by Synchrony Bank, DebtWave's broader
Synchrony account history provides useful context when evaluating
a Debt Management Program.
These figures represent Synchrony accounts collectively,
not CareCredit accounts alone. DebtWave analyzed Synchrony accounts
enrolled in its Debt Management Program from 2010 through 2024.
23,877
Synchrony Accounts Enrolled
15,921
Accounts Paid in Full
43
Average Months to Pay Off
$39.2M
Synchrony Debt Paid Off
25.07%
Average Starting APR
13.88%
Average DMP APR
$80
Average Starting Payment
$55
Average DMP Payment
Historical DebtWave analysis of Synchrony Bank accounts enrolled from 2010 through 2024. These statistics reflect Synchrony accounts broadly and are not limited to CareCredit. Historical averages and outcomes do not guarantee future CareCredit or Synchrony terms or individual results.
COMPARE THE TWO APPROACHES
CareCredit Hardship Program vs. a Debt Management Program
A CareCredit financial hardship arrangement and a
Debt Management Program may both address payment pressure, but
they serve different purposes.
| Feature | CareCredit Assistance | Debt Management Program |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it? | CareCredit / Synchrony Bank | Nonprofit credit counseling agency |
| Accounts addressed | Individual CareCredit account | Multiple eligible participating creditors may be included |
| New loan required? | No | No |
| Payment changes? | Depends on account-specific assistance offered | Depends on participating-creditor guidelines |
| APR changes? | Confirm directly with CareCredit | Eligible creditors may provide reduced APRs |
| Promotional financing? | Existing promotional terms may be important | Review promotional balances before enrollment |
| Budget and debt review? | Not the primary purpose | Included in the nonprofit counseling process |
| Multiple creditors? | Focused on CareCredit | Multiple qualifying accounts may be coordinated |
COMPARE YOUR CURRENT TERMS
Estimate Your CareCredit DMP Payment and APR
Use DebtWave's Debt Management Plan Calculator to compare your
current credit card balances, monthly payments and APRs with
estimated program terms.
Calculator results are estimates. Actual CareCredit or Synchrony
participation, payments, interest rates and creditor concessions
depend on the individual account and current creditor guidelines.
NONPROFIT CREDIT COUNSELING
Why Consider DebtWave instead of CareCredit Hardship Program?
DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization that has provided credit counseling, financial
education and Debt Management Programs since 2001.
DebtWave is also a member of the National Foundation for Credit
Counseling. A counselor can review your CareCredit account
alongside your other credit cards, monthly payments, income
and household expenses.
Speaking with DebtWave does not require you to enroll in a DMP.
Instead, you can compare paying the account yourself,
CareCredit payment assistance and a nonprofit
Debt Management Program before deciding how to proceed.
NFCC Member Agency
DebtWave is listed in the National Foundation for Credit Counseling member-agency directory.CARECREDIT HARDSHIP PROGRAM FAQS
Care Credit Hardship Program FAQs
Does CareCredit have a hardship program?
CareCredit does not publicly advertise one standard hardship program with identical terms for every cardholder. If payments have become difficult, contact CareCredit and ask whether hardship assistance, payment assistance or another repayment option is available for your account.What is the CareCredit hardship phone number?
CareCredit currently lists 866-893-7864 for existing cardholders. You can also use the customer-service number printed on the back of your card.Who issues the CareCredit credit card?
CareCredit is issued by Synchrony Bank. Therefore, account documents, payments and creditor-program information may reference Synchrony Bank.Should I contact CareCredit before missing a payment?
If you believe you may have difficulty making an upcoming payment, contacting CareCredit early can give you time to ask what account-specific options may be available.Can CareCredit lower my monthly payment?
Any CareCredit minimum payment help depends on the particular account and assistance Synchrony makes available. A reduced monthly payment is not guaranteed for every cardholder.Can a CareCredit hardship program lower my interest rate?
Do not assume that an interest-rate reduction will be offered. If CareCredit provides an account-specific arrangement, ask whether the APR changes and how long any modified terms remain in effect.What is CareCredit deferred interest?
Certain qualifying CareCredit purchases may receive a "No Interest if Paid in Full" promotion. Interest accrues during the promotional period but is not charged if the qualifying balance is completely paid before the promotional expiration date.Is CareCredit deferred interest the same as 0% APR?
No. With deferred interest, interest accrues from the original purchase date. If the promotional balance is not paid in full before the promotional deadline, the accumulated interest may be charged to the account.What happens if I have $1 left when my promotion expires?
CareCredit explains that even a small remaining promotional balance may cause the accrued deferred interest to be added to the account. Review the specific terms of your promotion and billing statement.Is the CareCredit APR really 32.99%?
CareCredit currently discloses a 32.99% purchase APR for new accounts. Existing cardholders should review their own credit-card agreement because the rate applicable to an existing account may differ.Can CareCredit be included in a Debt Management Program?
Eligible CareCredit accounts may be able to participate in a nonprofit Debt Management Program. Participation, interest rates, payments and other concessions depend on the individual account and Synchrony's current creditor guidelines.Will my CareCredit card be closed on a DMP?
Credit card accounts enrolled in a Debt Management Program are generally closed or restricted from additional purchases. This is particularly important if you currently rely on CareCredit for medical, dental or veterinary expenses.Does CareCredit have a debt-forgiveness program?
CareCredit does not publicly advertise a standard program that automatically forgives balances because a cardholder is experiencing financial hardship. Hardship assistance, debt management and debt settlement are different approaches.Is a CareCredit DMP the same as a consolidation loan?
No. A traditional Debt Management Program does not replace your CareCredit balance with a new loan. Instead, eligible participating debts are repaid through a structured program administered by a credit counseling organization.What if I have CareCredit plus several other credit cards?
A nonprofit credit counseling session can review several unsecured creditors together. This may be especially useful when CareCredit represents only one portion of a larger monthly credit card debt burden.How can I estimate a CareCredit DMP payment?
Use DebtWave's Debt Management Plan Calculator to compare your current balances, payments and APRs with estimated program terms. Actual CareCredit and Synchrony terms may differ from the estimate.Is there a CareCredit debt cancellation program?
CareCredit does not offer a general debt cancellation program that simply eliminates your outstanding balance because you are having difficulty making payments. However, CareCredit accounts are issued by Synchrony Bank, which offers an optional Payment Security Debt Cancellation Program for eligible cardholders who enrolled in the protection. Depending on the terms of the coverage, benefits may be available after certain qualifying events such as involuntary unemployment, disability, hospitalization, nursing home care, terminal illness, or death. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply.
If you are struggling with CareCredit debt and do not have this coverage, you may still have other options. Synchrony offers hardship and account-modification programs for some borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Depending on your circumstances, these programs may reduce interest, fees, or payments. Another option is a nonprofit Debt Management Program, which may provide a reduced interest rate and a structured monthly payment while allowing you to repay the CareCredit balance in full.
Important: Debt cancellation, debt settlement, a creditor hardship program, and a Debt Management Program are different types of assistance. Contact CareCredit/Synchrony directly to determine what options are currently available for your account.
GET HELP WITH CARECREDIT DEBT
Compare Your CareCredit Debt Relief Options
If your CareCredit payment has become difficult, start by contacting
CareCredit and asking what account-specific assistance is currently
available.
If CareCredit is only one part of a larger credit card debt problem,
DebtWave can provide a free financial review and help you compare
your current repayment strategy, a
CareCredit hardship program and a nonprofit
Debt Management Program.
DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed
by CareCredit, Synchrony Bank, Synchrony Financial or their affiliates.
CareCredit and Synchrony names and trademarks belong to their respective
owners. CareCredit hardship assistance, promotional financing,
eligibility and account terms may change. Debt Management Program
eligibility, creditor participation, interest rates, payments and
concessions vary by creditor and individual account. The historical
Synchrony statistics shown above are not limited to CareCredit accounts.
Historical results do not guarantee future creditor terms or individual
outcomes. DebtWave is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not
lend money.