{
  "id": 6057945,
  "title": "92% of Health Providers Want Patients to Prepay",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/92-of-health-providers-want-patients-to-prepay",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-06T22:51:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/healthcare/2026/92-percent-of-health-providers-want-patients-to-prepay/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The majority of U.S. health providers, 92% according to a recent survey by PayZen and the Healthcare Financial Management Association, are either encouraging patients to prepay for medical procedures or requiring them. This shift, which has increased from 81% in 2025, is leading to financial challenges for many patients. Some patients end up overpaying and seeking refunds, while others discover they owe significantly more than initially estimated. Molly Smith, vice president at the American Hospital Association, explained that this trend is a result of insurers shifting more costs to patients, leaving hospitals with unpaid bills. Approximately half of patients' portions of their healthcare bills remain unpaid one year after receiving care. This practice poses risks for patients who may delay necessary procedures due to financial constraints, such as ACL tear repairs or minimally invasive heart procedures. Phyllis Bass, a volunteer for the Patient Advocate Foundation, shared her experience of postponing medical treatments due to financial limitations. Research indicates that patients often prioritize housing and car payments over medical bills, leading to delayed treatments and potential health consequences. Some patients are even turning to buy now, pay later (BNPL) plans to manage health-related expenses, with 55% of Gen Z consumers indicating that BNPL availability influences their choice of medical or dental care.",
  "summary": "Americans are being asked to pay for costly medical procedures up front. Roughly 92% of U.S. health providers this year are either encouraging prepayment, requiring it, or collecting a payment method to have on file during the estimate process, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Sunday (Sept. 6). That’s up from 81% in 2025, the […] The post 92% of Health Providers Want Patients to Prepay…",
  "key_points": [
    "92% of health providers encourage or require patient prepayment",
    "Financial challenges arise as patients overpay or owe more",
    "Delayed treatments due to financial constraints and BNPL use"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}