- Digital, flexible payment options help patients pay faster — 72% are more likely to pay immediately via text or email.
- Multiple payment methods reduce billing friction, speed collections, and free staff from manual follow-ups.
- Payment flexibility meets generational needs, improves patient experience, and boosts overall collection rates.
Offering multiple patient payment options helps medical practices get paid faster, reduces staff workload, and improves patient satisfaction. Patients prefer convenient ways to pay and flexibility removes barriers that delay payment collection.
Seventy-two percent of patients say they’re more likely to pay a medical bill immediately when given digital payment options via email or text, according to Tebra research. It’s a strong indicator that convenience plays a major role in how quickly practices get paid. Consider what could happen if you gave patients even more options.
Billing is complex, and factors like high deductibles, unclear insurance coverage, and manual workflows can slow payments and overwhelm staff. And with different generations preferring different payment methods, it’s important to stay current and on top of all the ways patients want to pay.
In this article, we’ll explore how offering flexible patient payment options impact collection speed, support staff efficiency, and enhance the overall payment experience.
What payment options do patients prefer?
Today’s patients overwhelmingly want flexible, digital payments in healthcare. They expect the same convenience they experience in retail and banking — the ability to pay a bill quickly from their phone and without waiting for a paper statement or phone call.
"Today’s patients overwhelmingly want flexible, digital payments in healthcare."
Payment options include:
- Online bill pay that lets patients view and resolve their balance immediately
- Text-to-pay links or mobile payment prompts that make it easy to pay from any device
- Card-on-file so balances can be charged automatically after each visit
- Payment plans that help patients manage larger out-of-pocket costs
- In-office payment terminals for same-day checkout with credit cards or mobile wallets
Offering multiple patient payment options supports a smoother, more predictable payment experience and increases the likelihood that patients will pay their bill without delay.
How multiple payment methods help patients pay faster
When practices offer several convenient ways to pay, they eliminate barriers that traditionally slow down collections. Digital payments in healthcare allow patients to act immediately instead of waiting for a mailed statement, finding a checkbook, or calling the office during business hours.
Key reasons patients will pay faster include:
- Convenience: The ability to pay anytime, from any device
- Accuracy: Real-time balances reduce confusion
- Less friction: No paper statements or office callbacks
- Automation: Gentle reminders prompt action without staff involvement
"When practices offer several convenient ways to pay, they eliminate barriers that traditionally slow down collections."
In addition, clear and simple statements help patients quickly understand what they owe and act faster. With fewer obstacles in the way, patients can resolve their balance, strengthening cash flow and reducing aging A/R.
Why multiple payment methods reduce staff workload
Having multiple payment options frees up billing staff from spending hours sending statements, leaving voicemails, or manually following up. With multiple payment options, patients can:
- Pay online
- Respond to a text link
- Rely on a stored card to process automatically
This reduces repetitive administrative tasks and frees staff to focus on higher-value responsibilities that directly impact patient care and overall practice efficiency.
How does payment flexibility improve collection?
When patients can choose how they pay, practices consistently see:
- Faster payments
- Fewer overdue balances
- Higher collection rates overall
When establishing patient options, it’s also important to consider how patients can manage larger or ongoing balances. Types of patient payment financing options include:
- Payment plans and installments allow patients to spread out larger out-of-pocket costs into smaller, scheduled payments and reduce the likelihood of non-payment
- Card-on-file and recurring billing allows practices to securely store credit card information for later and automatically collect balances after each visit
- Mobile pay and text-to-pay options let patients pay from their phone using a link or prompt so they can act right away
How do different generations prefer to pay?
In a recent Tebra Talks episode, Revolutionize Patient Payments: Simplifying Billing for Gen Z, our experts discussed data that shows a clear generational gap in the healthcare payment experience.
Nearly 7 in 10 Gen Z patients (68%) encountered at least one issue when paying for their most recent healthcare service, compared with fewer than 1 in 5 Baby Boomers. The most common payment issues cited by Gen Z patients include limited digital payment options, insurance coverage confusion, unexpected charges, and billing statements that are difficult to understand.
The conversation also noted that younger patients use telehealth far more often — about 30% of Gen Z and Millennials had their most recent visit remotely, compared to just 6% of Boomers — which increases the need for digital, self-service payment pathways.
Additionally, many Gen Z patients are either uninsured or are navigating private insurance without the streamlined processes Medicare offers, leading to more out-of-pocket costs and more complex billing.
The takeaway? The friction younger patients face isn’t about their ability to use technology — it’s that healthcare billing hasn’t kept pace with the digital experiences they rely on everywhere else.
How practices can roll out multiple payment methods
With the right technology in place, rolling out multiple payment methods works best when your team understands why it matters and how each option functions.
Ensure your staff feels confident using digital payment tools so they can clearly explain how each works to patients. This reduces hesitation, improves adoption, and leads to faster collections. Clear processes and consistent communication also help patients know when and how to pay, making the billing experience smoother.
"Ensure your staff feels confident using digital payment tools so they can clearly explain how each works to patients."
To ensure everyone is on board with new payment methods, practices should:
- Train staff on digital payment tools. Make sure front-desk and billing teams understand how to send text-to-pay links, process mobile wallets, set up card-on-file, and answer common patient questions.
- Update your financial policy. Clearly outline which payment methods you accept and set expectations around when payment is due, how payment plans work, and what happens if a balance goes unpaid.
- Communicate payment options early and often. Add payment methods to your website, appointment reminders, patient statements, and in-office signage.
With Tebra’s patient payments, medical practices can streamline the process of collecting copays and outstanding balances from patients to ensure a seamless and efficient payment experience.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
- Convenience — patients can pay anytime, from any device.
- Accuracy — real-time balances reduce confusion and slowdowns.
- Reduced friction — no need to mail checks or call the office.
- Automation — reminders prompt action without staff intervention.
- Online bill pay
- Text-to-pay or mobile payment links
- Card-on-file automatic billing
- Payment plans for larger balances
- In-office card terminals for same-day payment
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