Hospitals and health systems are navigating increasingly complex financial landscapes. These aren’t just financial headwinds. They’re a category five financial hurricane barreling towards land after hanging out in warm waters for the past decade. The affordability gap is primed to hurt both health systems and patients alike unless there’s a proactive strategy to survive it.

Bridging the affordability gap effectively means bringing in more revenue for health systems and giving patients the peace of mind that healthcare services are not beyond their reach. There are a number of ways that healthcare systems can solve this problem, including offering long-term payment plans for patients who need them as a primary approach.

But there’s so much nuance and various approaches with payment plans. Health systems can manage these programs internally on their own, they can partner with local or regional banks to offer patients loans, they can partner with medical credit card or non-recourse companies, or recourse patient financing partners.

Each approach has tradeoffs. For example, although regional banks may seem like a convenient solution for patient payment plans, they often lack the tools, flexibility, and strategic alignment required to truly support healthcare organizations and the communities they serve.

To improve care delivery for patients and providers alike, organizations need a partner who combines financial results with empathy. That’s where AccessOne makes a difference.

Where Regional and Local Banks Fall Short

On the surface, banks can offer the basics, but patients and providers need more than just a loan. When it comes to managing healthcare-specific challenges––like ensuring equitable access to care, navigating regulatory complexities, and engaging patients––these institutions lack a detailed understanding of the patient journey.

And let’s be honest: expensive and unexpected healthcare costs hit differently than buying a house or a car. That’s why empathy is so crucial when it comes to your patient financing program.

On the Outside Looking In

Regional banks aren’t built for healthcare. Their financial products aren’t tailored to the unique needs of patients and providers, meaning they don’t have the expertise to address healthcare’s unique challenges, such as accommodating a wide range of patient balances, offering 0% interest plans without credit checks, or seamlessly integrating into existing EHRs and revenue cycle systems.

This lack of customization can lead to poorly structured patient financing options that either exclude vulnerable populations or complicate the payment experience. In contrast, healthcare-specific financing partners design every aspect of their solutions with both the provider and the patient in mind.

Inconsistent Approval Processes

Banks typically rely on credit-based underwriting, which creates barriers for patients with lower credit scores or inconsistent financial histories. For healthcare providers, this translates into uneven patient access, greater administrative burden, and increased bad debt when patients are denied financing and forgo care.

With patient financing specialists like AccessOne, every individual qualifies, and no social security number or specific credit status is required. This universal access model eliminates the friction that comes from denials and supports a more inclusive, equitable approach to care.

Inflexibility and Limited Support

Most regional banks are not equipped to balance the complexity of managing patient costs while protecting your organization’s bottom line. They lack the automation, EHR integration, and patient-friendly interfaces that maximize engagement and cash flow without burdening administrative staff.

Healthcare-focused partners offer tools that streamline the enrollment and payment process. Features like mobile pay, text-based reminders, and no-login payment options improve the patient experience and drive higher payment compliance without increasing provider overhead and workload.

Why Healthcare Needs a Different Kind of Financing Partner

As healthcare organizations move toward a more consumer-centric model, payment solutions must evolve to support this shift. More than a transactional service, patient financing is a strategic lever for improving care access, engagement, and revenue cycle performance.

Here’s what sets a partner like AccessOne apart:

• Guaranteed Approval for All Patients: Every patient qualifies, regardless of credit score or balance size.
• 0% Interest Options: Patients can pay on a personalized timeline, without accruing interest or facing hidden fees.
• No Credit Reporting or Checks: Plans preserve patient dignity and financial health.
• Mobile-First, No-Login Experience: Fast, intuitive payment options meet patients where they are.
• Deep Healthcare Integration: Technology works within your existing systems and workflows.

The Impact on Care and Revenue

Partnering with a healthcare-specific financing provider improves more than just cash flow. It enhances the overall patient experience and leads to better outcomes. AccessOne offers end-to-end patient financing solutions that combine financial empathy with operational excellence. We deliver performance insights and repayment data in real time, ensuring your team knows what’s working and where to optimize. As a platform created by providers and for providers, our technology, experience, and commitment to inclusivity make us the strategic choice for hospitals and health systems that want to improve financial outcomes without compromising on care.

Ready to Move Beyond Regional Banks?

If your organization is still relying on a regional bank for patient financing—or is considering doing so—it’s time to reevaluate. See how AccessOne can help you implement a smarter, more sustainable approach that aligns with your mission and supports your patients.

Ready to modernize your payment experience and improve your bottom line? Let’s talk.