A patient payment plan lets a patient split a balance into smaller scheduled payments - for example, a $250 balance paid as $50 a month - instead of paying it all at once or not at all. For home health and hospice patients on fixed incomes, the option to pay over time is often what turns an unpaid balance into a collected one.
Why Payment Plans Improve Collections
A balance that feels unaffordable in one payment often goes unpaid entirely. Offering a plan up front gives patients a realistic way to pay and gives the agency a predictable schedule instead of repeated reminders.
How Text-Based Payment Plans Work
Rules Agencies Should Set
Payment plan terms should follow the agency's financial policies and applicable regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Can patients set up a payment plan themselves?+
Yes. With text-to-pay, patients can choose a plan from the payment link, within the limits the agency sets.
Are installments charged automatically?+
Once a patient sets up a plan, installments can be charged automatically to the saved card or bank account, with reminders before each payment.
Do payment plans reduce write-offs?+
Giving patients a manageable way to pay tends to reduce balances that go unpaid entirely, though results vary by agency and patient population.