![The 7 Best Credit Cards for Healthcare Expenses [Medical & Dental]](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Dentist.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
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Updated: August 16, 2024, 5:47am CDT43 Published Articles 3380 Edited Articles
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Medical expenses and dental work are niche spending categories — most of us have health insurance that covers a solid portion of procedures and check-ups.
But if you are making purchases that aren’t quite covered, what’s the best credit card to use?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this unique question, but this guide is dedicated to getting you closer to narrowing down the best card for your healthcare expenses!
Whether you have regular medical or dental expenses or rare, high-ticket expenses like surgery, optimizing your purchases could add up over time.
Indeed, there aren’t any credit cards that specifically call out medical or dental expenses as a bonus category, so the best thing to do in this situation is to find a fantastic credit card for everyday purchases. You won’t need to follow any bonus categories, and you can boost the rewards you earn on your daily transactions.
Here are our favorite personal credit cards for medical and dental expenses.
Card
Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee
Benefits for Healthcare Expenses
2% cash-back (1% at the time of purchase and another 1% when you pay your bill, earned as ThankYou Points)
1x points on medical or dental expenses
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
Welcome OfferEarn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
$200 cash back Annual Fee 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable Credit RecommendedUpgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO ® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Fair to Excellent (580-850) Why We Like This CardThe Citi Double Cash ® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!
This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.
Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.
Pros & ConsIt’s no secret that we’re a fan of the Double Cash card offered by Citibank. In our opinion, the Double Cash card is the single most rewarding credit card for non-bonused spending with no caps.
The Double Cash card earns you 2% cash-back (1% at the time of purchase and another 1% when you pay your bill, earned as ThankYou Points). There are no caps to how many rewards you can earn.
You can use these points for cash-back, travel through the Citi travel portal, or they can be transferred to Choice, Wyndham, or JetBlue.
However, if you also have a credit card like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, you can access all of Citi’s transfer partners and you’ll nearly double your return on spending, since ThankYou Points are worth 1.6 cents each.
That means your 2% cash-back transforms into a 3.2% return on your spending!
The card’s benefits also include an introductory APR benefit, a late fee pass, flexible pay dates, fraud protection, zero liability for unauthorized purchases, and access to Citi Private Pass for event tickets. As with all intro APR offers, the regular APR (as shown in the table above) will apply.
Citi’s ThankYou Rewards system is one of the best out there — thanks to a list of valuable transfer partners, we actively recommend earning Citi ThankYou Points.
That’s because you can redeem points through transfer partners to book flights like ANA first class and Emirates first class.
Additionally, there are plenty of non-transfer partner redemptions, such as cash-back, gift cards, checks, merchandise, direct deposit, travel booked through the ThankYou Rewards travel portal, and more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
Learn More (at Chase's secure site)
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
Welcome OfferINTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Up to $300 cash back Annual Fee0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
Credit RecommendedUpgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO ® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850) Why We Like This CardThe Chase Freedom Unlimited ® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.
Pros & ConsThe Freedom Unlimited card has superb earning categories overall, but what makes this card special is the ability to earn 1.5% cash-back on all purchases, regardless of category. That means your medical and dental expenses will qualify to earn 1.5% cash-back.
To sweeten the deal, earn 5% cash-back on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal and 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases.
Not only that, your Freedom Unlimited card’s cash-back rewards are convertible to Ultimate Rewards points at a 1% to 1x ratio, as long as you have an Ultimate Rewards credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , or the Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card.
By converting your cash-back to Ultimate Rewards points, your 1.5%, 3%, and 5% cash-back becomes 1.5x, 3x, and 5x Ultimate Rewards points. That’s worth a 3%, 6%, or 10% return on your spending, according to our valuations.
Also, the introductory 0% APR benefit on purchases and balance transfers is nothing to sneeze at, either. After the introductory periods, regular APR (as indicated in the table above) will apply.
The Freedom Unlimited card comes with benefits like secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, extended warranty, zero liability for unauthorized purchases, fraud protection and alerts, and more.
Chase Ultimate Rewards are some of the most valuable types of points in the entire world, worth 2 cents each.
While it’s true that the Freedom Unlimited card’s rewards are only redeemable at a 1 cent per point value, you can double the value of your points by having an Ultimate Rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
To achieve greater value, transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to the Chase travel partners and use them for luxury business and first class flights!
BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Learn More (at Amex's secure site)
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points UP's Bonus Valuation*: Annual Fee See Pay Over Time APR Credit RecommendedUpgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO ® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850) Why We Like This CardWhen it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros & ConsHot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
The Amex Platinum card is the last personal card we’ll be talking about, and there’s a lot to talk about. This ultra-premium card offers the best luxury travel perks in the world.
Before we discuss that, though, let’s talk about the welcome bonus: a large bill from the doctor could easily help you reach the minimum spend requirement to receive the bonus, and you’ll earn 1x points on these medical or dental expenses.
Plus, you’ll get 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com (capped at $500,000 per calendar year).
And as far as luxury travel perks go, check out this massive list of benefits (terms apply and some benefits require enrollment through your American Express account):
You’ll even enjoy lifestyle benefits, like up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits, up to $240 digital entertainment credit, up to $200 Uber Cash for U.S. Uber rides or U.S. Uber Eats orders, a $12.95 monthly Walmart + credit, and up to $300 Equinox credit.
Also, you’ll get access to Amex Offers, purchase protection, extended warranty, zero fraud liability protection, and no foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees).
Amex Membership Rewards takes the crown for the most valuable points in the world, valued at 2.2 cents each.
You can get tons of value by redeeming your points on luxury travel through the Amex transfer partners.
For other redemptions, you won’t get great value, but these include Shop with Points at Amazon, cash-back, gift cards, charity, statement credits, and Pay With Points travel bookings via AmexTravel.com.
If medical expenses or dental work are deductible business expenses for your situation, then you’ll want to pay attention to this next list of the best business credit cards for medical and dental expenses.
Card
Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee
Benefits for Healthcare Expenses
2x points, up to a maximum of $50,000 per year
1.5x points on purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year)
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Learn More (at Amex's secure site)
Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Welcome OfferEarn 15,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
15,000 points UP's Bonus Valuation*: Annual Fee No annual fee 18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening Credit RecommendedUpgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO ® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-840) Why We Like This CardAs a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business ® Plus Credit Card from American Express.
With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).
The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.
Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.
Pros & ConsThe Amex Blue Business Plus card is easily one of the best business credit cards for rewards.
The card offers 2x Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on everyday business purchases, up to a maximum of $50,000 per year. Upon hitting the maximum spend, you earn a straightforward 1x thereafter, so we generally recommend using this card for your first $50,000 in general business purchases.
It also comes with an introductory 0% APR perk you can use to defer interest fees on any balances. As with all intro APR offers, the regular APR, as shown in the table above, will apply after the introductory period (rates & fees).
This card also gets you access to benefits like purchase protection, extended warranty, Membership Rewards, and employee cards at no additional cost (see rates & fees).
LIMITED TIME OFFER!
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Learn More (at Chase's secure site)
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Welcome OfferEarn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
UP's Bonus Valuation*: Annual Fee 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter Credit RecommendedUpgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO ® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850) Why We Like This CardAs a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited ® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Pros & ConsThe Ink Business Unlimited card offers a similar earning structure on everyday business purchases.
The difference is that this card comes with a huge welcome bonus, in addition to benefits like a 0% introductory APR on purchases. After the introductory period the regular APR, as indicated above, will apply.
On all business purchases, the Ink Business Unlimited card boasts 1.5% cash-back.
These rewards can be converted to Ultimate Rewards points with an Ultimate Rewards card like the Ink Business Preferred card, doubling your return on spending to approximately 3%.
Furthermore, you can add unlimited employee cards with no additional fees, enjoy primary rental car insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, zero liability fraud coverage, and more.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every $1 you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
The Capital One Spark Miles card is a low-annual-fee business card that earns 2x transferable miles on every $1 you spend. (Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One.)
Welcome OfferEarn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles – equal to $500 in travel – once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
50,000 miles UP's Bonus Valuation*: Annual Fee $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that 26.24% (Variable) Credit RecommendedUpgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO ® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850) Why We Like This CardThe Capital One Spark Miles for Business is a great option for business owners looking for an uncomplicated rewards card that earns double miles on every purchase they make and offers access to transfer partners, all for a low annual fee.
Pros & ConsThe Capital One Spark Miles card is Capital One’s flagship business credit card.
Offering unlimited 2x Capital One miles per dollar spent on every purchase with no blackouts, seat restrictions, or minimum to redeem, there’s a lot to love about it.
You can even earn 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel.
Other perks on this card are the $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, no-cost employee cards, roadside assistance, extended warranty, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Learn More (at Amex's secure site)
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Welcome OfferEarn 150,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
150,000 points UP's Bonus Valuation*: Annual Fee 19.49% - 28.49% Variable Credit RecommendedUpgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO ® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850) Why We Like This CardThe Business Platinum Card ® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.
When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.
Pros & ConsHot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 150,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
The Amex Business Platinum card rounds out our best business cards for medical and dental expenses, and you should absolutely consider holding this card if you’re a business owner.
You’ll earn 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked via AmexTravel.com and earn 1.5x on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year).
That means if you have a $7,000 medical or dental procedure, you can earn 1.5x Amex points, worth a return on spending of 3.3%!
You’ll also find a series of travel perks, including access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, up to $200 in airline fee credits per calendar year, up to $199 CLEAR Plus credit per year, up to $400 in statement credits for U.S. purchases with Dell (split into 2 semi-annual credits of $200 each), access to the famed Fine Hotels & Resorts program, hotel and rental car elite status upon enrollment, a 35% Pay With Points rebate on flights booked through AmexTravel.com (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year), a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and more.
And on an ongoing basis, make use of purchase protection, return protection, travel insurance, secondary rental car insurance, extended warranty, and integrations into QuickBooks.
If you have upcoming medical or dental work and are looking to earn rewards or cash-back for your expenses, we hope we’ve shed some light on some of the most worthwhile credit cards to use for your needs.
Whether you’re putting charges from the doctor’s office on a regular personal credit card or are planning to use a business card, we’ve shown you the top choices to help you make the most of points, rewards, and travel benefits!
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa ® or Mastercard ® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
The information regarding the Citi Double Cash ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Information regarding the Capital One Spark Miles for Business was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business ® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here.
In our opinion, the best personal credit cards for medical expenses or dental work are the Double Cash card, the Freedom Unlimited card, the Capital One Venture card, and the Amex Platinum card.
The best business credit cards to pay for medical expenses or dental work are the Amex Blue Business Plus card, the Ink Business Unlimited card, the Capital One Spark Miles card, and the Amex Business Platinum card.
The best way to pay for medical or dental procedures is by using a card that gets you the best rewards or cash-back.
Some of the best personal cards are the Double Cash card, the Freedom Unlimited card, the Capital One Venture card, and the Amex Platinum card, while some of the best business cards are the Amex Blue Business Plus card, the Ink Business Unlimited card, the Capital One Spark Miles card, and the Amex Business Platinum card.
A dental credit card is a charge card that has a balance you pay off. It functions a lot like a store card when you agree to finance a large purchase. You make regular payments and follow the terms outlined in the cardmember agreement.
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Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.
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