Best Medical Loans for Bad Credit in 2025
Get up to $50,000 to pay for medical expenses
| Lender | User rating | Best for | APR | Term | Amount | Min. credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Better approval odds with collateral | 7.99% – 35.99% | 36 to 84 months | Starting at $2k | Not specified | ||
|
Getting discounts with a connected checking account | 7.99% – 35.99% | 24 to 84 months |
$1k – $50k |
580 | ||
|
People new to credit | 7.50% – 35.99% (Test) | 12 to 84 months |
$100 – $1M |
Not specified |
| Lender |
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| User rating | |||
| Best for | Better approval odds with collateral | Getting discounts with a connected checking account | People new to credit |
| APR | |||
| Term | 36 to 84 months | 24 to 84 months | 12 to 84 months |
| Amount | Starting at $2k | $1k – $50k | $100 – $1M |
| Min. credit score | Not specified | 580 | Not specified |
Best For: better approval odds with collateral
- Boost your odds of approval by using your home’s fixtures or your car as collateral
- Get money in as little as 24 hours
- Can change your due date twice (many lenders only allow one extension, or none at all)
- Can’t add a second person to your loan
- Keeps 0.99% – 9.99% out of every loan as an origination fee
- Risk losing collateral if you can’t pay
Offering collateral can make it easier to qualify for a loan, and Best Egg accepts two different kinds of collateral. You can use your home’s permanent fixtures, like built-in cabinets and vanities, as collateral for Best Egg’s lowest rates. If you’re not a homeowner, you can use your car as collateral with an auto equity loan.
Secured loans are risky, which is why they’re easier to get. You could lose your collateral if you can’t make payments on time.
The rates and terms highlighted above apply to Best Egg’s Secured Loan + Homeowner Discount. Visit the Best Egg website for more information about getting a car equity loan.
Best Egg uses your home’s permanent fixtures as collateral, but no appraisal is needed. Instead, Best Egg will review your credit history and home equity to see if you qualify.
You must also meet the requirements below to qualify for a Best Egg loan:
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the U.S.
- Administrative: Have a personal checking account, email address and physical address
- Residency: Not live in the District of Columbia, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia or U.S. territories
- Credit score: 580+
Best For: getting discounts with a connected checking account
- Get special rate discounts on new loans with a Rewards Checking Plus account
- Rate discount for autopay
- Can use your car as collateral
- Need $1,000 per month in direct deposits to get Rewards Checking Plus account perks
- Keeps 1.85% – 9.99% out of every loan as an origination fee
Lending platform Upgrade offers perks and discounts for keeping your loan and bank account under one roof. Having a Rewards Checking Plus account unlocks a 10% to 20% discount on Upgrade loans and credit cards. You can also earn up to 2% cash back when you use your Upgrade debit card for everyday purchases.
You’ll need $1,000 or more in monthly direct deposits to get all of the perks that come with Rewards Checking Plus. And like many other bad credit companies, Upgrade charges a mandatory origination fee.
To qualify for a loan through Upgrade, you must meet the requirements below:
- Age: Be at least 18 years old (19 in some states)
- Citizenship: Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or live in the U.S. with a valid visa
- Administrative: Have a valid bank account and email address
- Credit score: 580+
Best For: people new to credit
- Eligible college students and grads don’t need credit to qualify
- Has a 300 credit score minimum (one of the lowest on the market)
- Most people don’t have to upload documents as part of the loan process
- Can’t add a second person to your loan to help boost your approval odds
- Could have a high origination fee
- Only two repayment terms to choose from: 36 or 60 months
Upstart is a lending platform that uses AI to determine your creditworthiness. It looks beyond your credit score and considers other factors like your employment and education. In fact, if you’re a college student working toward at least an associate’s degree, Upstart may waive its credit score minimum. The same goes for eligible college grads. This helps it approve people that other lenders would deny.
You’ll have to qualify on your own merit, since Upstart doesn’t let you add a co-borrower to your loan. Also, the lower your credit score, the more likely it is Upstart charges you an expensive origination fee (0.00% – 12.00%).
Upstart has transparent eligibility requirements, including:
- Age: Be 18 or older
- Administrative: Have a U.S. address, personal banking account, email address and Social Security number
- Income: Have a valid source of income, including a job, job offer or another regular income source
- Credit-related factors: No bankruptcies within the last three years, reasonable number of recent inquiries on your credit report and no current delinquencies
- Credit score: 300+ (unless you’re an eligible college student or graduate, in which case Upstart could approve you with no credit)
What to know about medical loans for bad credit
Medical loans can help you pay for an emergency medical expense or upcoming procedure, but having bad credit makes it harder to get a loan.Here’s what you need to know about getting a medical loan with bad credit:
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Higher interest rates and fees
Expect your offers to be on the high end of the APR range (typically up to 36% among competitive-rate lenders) because of higher interest rates and origination fees. This means you’ll pay more to borrow money. -
Longer wait to get approved
It can take longer to get approved for a personal loan if you have bad credit, since lenders will take a closer look at your credit report and history before deciding whether to offer you money. Look into quick loans from reputable lenders if you need money ASAP. -
Smaller loans
Medical loans typically range anywhere from $1,000 to $50,000, though some lenders may offer more. You’re more likely to qualify for a small personal loan with bad credit, since larger loans tend to come with stricter eligibility criteria.
Half of Americans who have medical debt have had debt sent to collections, and 64% say it’s keeping them from their other financial goals. Learn more about the cost of medical debt.
How to find a bad credit medical loan with LendingTree
Shopping around for a personal loan on LendingTree can save you an average of $1,659 over the life of your loan. Here’s how it works.
Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need. We’ll take care of the rest. It’s free, simple and secure.
Shop your offers
We’ll send you offers from up to five trusted lenders. Compare your offers side by side to see which one will save you the most money.
Get your money
Choose an offer and work with the lender to finalize your loan. Some people see money in their accounts within 24 hours, depending on the lender they choose.
How to compare bad credit medical loans
Shopping for medical loans with bad credit can be hard since you likely won’t qualify for low rates. When comparing lenders, keep the following in mind:
APRs
A loan’s APR is the cost of borrowing and includes the interest rate and any fees. The better your credit score, the lower your APRs will likely be. If you have bad credit, your rates can be as high as 36%, making your loan expensive.
Lender reputation
Before signing on the dotted line, do some research on the lender’s reputation. Check for any regulatory actions from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB). You can also check the CFPB complaint database.
Discounts
Some lenders offer interest rate discounts for things like enrolling in autopay. This can help you save money if you have bad credit and a high interest rate.
Customer support
Google the lender’s customer service reviews and check its website for customer service hours. Reconsider the offer if the lender has bad reviews or very limited hours.
Funding speed
If you need a medical loan in a hurry, how long it takes to get your loan is important. While some lenders can take three days or more to send you money, some offer next-day or same-day funding.
How to boost your chances of getting a medical loan
If you’re looking for a bad credit personal loan for medical expenses, you can expect high rates and lower odds of approval. Here’s how to improve your chances of getting a loan:
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Improve your credit score
It will take time and patience to improve your credit score, but if you do, you’ll have better odds of getting approved — with lower rates. Even raising your credit score from “fair” to “very good” can save you an average of $1,804 on a personal loan. -
Dispute credit report errors
It’s possible for incorrect information to appear on your credit reports and hurt your score. Check your credit reports and dispute any errors to give your score a boost. -
Consider offering collateral
While most personal loans don’t require collateral, you may want to consider a secured loan that does. These loans are typically easier to get since they are guaranteed by a valuable asset, like a savings account or car. -
Find a cosigner
If you don’t have time to improve your credit, consider getting a loan with a cosigner. If your co-applicant has good or excellent credit, your odds of approval will likely improve.
Other ways to pay for medical costs
A medical loan isn’t always the best choice, especially if you have bad credit. Consider these alternatives to pay for your medical expenses:
Payment plan
Some doctors and hospitals offer payment plans to help patients spread out the cost of their medical care. Ask your doctor about payment plans and if their plans come with interest or fees.
Medical credit card
Some doctors and hospitals offer medical credit cards as a way to pay for medical expenses when you don’t have cash on hand. These cards can come with high rates, though, so make sure you’ll be able to pay the card off quickly or you could rack up high-interest debt.
Nonprofit assistance
Organizations like the Patient Advocate Foundation and the National Organization for Rare Disorders can help you cover the cost of out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Family loan
While this can come with its own set of complications, borrowing from family or friends may be a good option if you know you can repay the loan. To avoid conflict, draw up a loan agreement.
Frequently asked questions
You can qualify for a medical loan with bad credit, but you’ll likely pay higher interest rates that could make your loan expensive. If you decide to get a medical loan, you can refinance the personal loan to get lower rates down the line once you’ve improved your credit score.
You may have to consider a medical loan if you need treatment as soon as possible, if you don’t have insurance or if your insurance won’t cover a procedure. Be sure to look at alternatives to pay for medical expenses before you apply for a loan.
The credit score you need for a personal loan depends on the lender, though some lenders accept scores below 580 (the threshold for bad credit). All the lenders on this list offer loans for bad credit.
There is no one credit score needed to get a medical credit card, though many credit card companies require a credit score of at least 660. Some companies offer credit cards for bad credit, but you’ll likely pay high interest rates.
Our methodology
We reviewed more than 30 lenders that offer medical loans for bad credit to determine the overall best five lenders. To make our list, lenders must accept credit scores at or below 600 and offer competitive APRs. From there, we prioritize lenders based on the following factors:
Accessibility. Lenders are ranked higher if their personal loans are available to more people and require fewer conditions. This may include lower credit requirements, wider geographic availability, faster funding and easier and more transparent prequalification and application processes.
Rates and terms. We prioritize lenders with more competitive fixed rates, fewer fees and greater options for repayment terms, loan amounts and APR discounts.
Repayment experience. For starters, we consider each lender’s reputation and business practices. We also favor lenders that report to all major credit bureaus, offer reliable customer service and provide any unique perks to customers, like free wealth coaching.
LendingTree reviews and fact-checks our top lender picks on a monthly basis.
According to our standardized rating system, the best medical loans for bad credit come from Best Egg, OneMain Financial, Prosper, Upgrade and Upstart.