HFDFinancing

What is HFD financing from Healthcare Finance Direct?

HFD financing is a patient payment plan from Healthcare Finance Direct, a Southlake, Texas company founded in 2009. Your dentist, orthodontist, vet or clinic offers it at checkout so you can split the cost of treatment into monthly payments instead of paying all at once.

HFD works a little differently from a medical credit card. It doesn't give you a revolving card. Instead, you get an installment plan for one specific treatment, and HFD pays your provider up front. You then pay HFD each month until the balance is gone.

HFD is also a technology platform. It supplies the software, servicing and payment systems that let practices run their own financing programs, which is why plan terms can vary a bit from one office to the next.

Who can get approved for an HFD loan?

HFD says it approves more than 99% of people who apply. It looks at more than your credit score when it decides, so fair or poor credit doesn't automatically mean a denial. The few situations that do lead to a decline are:

• an open bankruptcy
• a credit freeze on your file
• appearing on a government watchlist such as the OFAC list
• HFD being unable to confirm your identity

You'll need an email address because HFD is paperless, and you can use an ITIN in place of a Social Security number. More detail is on our HFD credit score requirements and HFD application requirements pages.

How much can you borrow?

For Invisalign, applicants with a credit score above 640 can qualify for up to $15,000, and applicants below 640 can still get up to $7,000. HFD's dental program lists coverage up to $35,000. The amount you're offered depends on your credit grade and your treatment cost.

Down payments and monthly payments

For Invisalign and orthodontic plans, down payments are $0, $199 or $499 depending on your credit grade. You can pay the down payment with a debit card, credit card or FSA/HSA card. Monthly payments can come from a debit card, FSA/HSA or a bank account (ACH). There's no penalty for paying your plan off early.

How HFD patient financing works

Three parties are involved in every HFD plan. Knowing who does what saves you time when you have a question.

YouPatient

Your providerDentist, vet or clinic

HFDPlan and billing

1. Treatment plan and priceYour provider
2. You apply in a few minutesSoft credit check only
3. Offers appear in secondsYou pick a plan
4. Provider is paid in fullWithin 2 to 3 business days
5. You make monthly paymentsUp to 84 months
6. Refunds and cancellationsProvider tells HFD to adjust

Your provider decides to offer HFD and sets up its program. HFD then services your agreement, which means it collects your payments and answers account questions so your provider can focus on care.

HFD payment plan examples

Here's what common treatment costs look like at 0% interest. If your offer includes interest, your payment will be higher.

HFD financing fees

Fees depend on your provider, your state and your agreement type, and they're listed in your Retail Installment Agreement. Examples HFD mentions include:

• late fees for payments made after the due date
• non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees when a payment bounces
• credit card processing fees

Read your agreement before you sign, and call HFD if a fee looks wrong. See our full breakdown of HFD financing interest rates and fees.

Why you might see two charges in one month

Your agreement lets HFD debit recurring payments until the balance and interest are paid. If a payment is missed, HFD may collect it the following month, so you can see two charges while your account catches up. Keeping your payment method up to date prevents this.

Refunds, cancellations and disputes

If you want to cancel treatment or return a product, contact your provider first. Your provider tells HFD to refund payments or update your plan. If you can't reach your provider, HFD says it will contact them for you.

HFD also says it sides with the patient when a dispute is filed about the care or product, and helps with repayment unless the provider shows the patient didn't follow the dispute policy.

HFD vs buy now, pay later

HFD is built only for healthcare. Unlike many buy now, pay later apps that treat disputes as the retailer's problem, HFD steps in on the patient's side. Plans also run much longer, up to 84 months, compared with the few short installments many shopping apps offer. See more options on our HFD financing alternatives page.

Is HFD financing worth it?

For many patients, yes. HFD is worth a look if other lenders have turned you down, if you want to protect your credit score from a hard inquiry, or if you need a long term to make the monthly payment affordable. It's less compelling if you have excellent credit and can get a true 0% offer elsewhere, or if you can pay the full cost within a few months.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most problems with HFD financing come from a few avoidable mistakes.

• Only looking at the monthly payment. A longer plan costs less each month but can cost more overall if your offer has interest.
• Skipping the agreement. Your Retail Installment Agreement lists your rate, fees and payment schedule.
• Applying with a credit freeze on. Lift it first so your application isn't stopped.
• Letting a card expire. An old card on file can lead to missed payments, fees and two charges the next month.
• Calling HFD about treatment problems first. Refunds and care issues start with your provider.

Total cost: short vs long plans

Here's how the same $6,000 treatment compares at an illustrative 15% APR. Longer plans lower the payment but add interest.

Illustrative 15% APR, not an HFD rate quote. At 0%, total paid equals the treatment cost.

How we researched this page

We built this page from HFD's own patient pages and FAQs, Align's HFD financing page and public customer feedback. We don't accept payment from HFD to cover it. Read our editorial policy and advertiser disclosure.

• HFD: Patient payment plans and financing
• HFD: Patient frequently asked questions
• Invisalign: HFD treatment financing
• HFD: Dental patient financing

Managing your HFD payment plan

HFD lets you manage your plan online or by phone.

• Log in to the HFD patient portal to see your balance and history
• Get payment reminders before each due date
• Pay online or set up recurring payments
• Change your payment date or pay off early by calling support

If your provider doesn't offer HFD

HFD is only available through participating providers. You can ask your dentist, vet or clinic to sign up, since HFD has a refer-your-doctor option. If you need to move forward now, you can check personal loan offers that work at any provider.