| Lenders | User ratings | Best for… | APR range | Loan terms | Loan amounts | Minimum credit score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Short-term loans | 9.95% - 35.95% | 12 to 60 months | $2,000 - $35,000 | 580 |
 | Secured loans | 18.00% - 35.99% | 24 to 60 months | $1,500 - $20,000 | Not specified | |
 | Monitoring your credit | 11.69% - 35.99% | 36 or 60 months | $1,000 - $50,000 | 560 | |
 | Joint applications | 8.49% - 35.99% | 24 to 84 months | $1,000 - $50,000 | 580 | |
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User Ratings & Reviews
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services. | Borrowers new to credit | 6.40% - 35.99% | 36 and 60 months | $1,000 - $50,000 | 300 |
| Starting APR | 9.95% - 35.95% |
| Loan amounts | $2,000 - $35,000 |
| Loan terms | 12 to 60 months |
| Origination fee | Up to 9.99% |
| Minimum credit score | 580 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Funding may be available on the next business day Flexible loan terms Offers prequalification | Charges administrative fees Charges late payment fees No joint loans offered |
If you want to pay off your loan quickly and save on interest. Avant offers short-term loans, ranging from 12 to 60 months. This lender also offers flexible loan terms and allows potential borrowers to prequalify for a loan without any impact to their credit score.
Avant charges a one-time administrative fee of up to 9.99%, so you’ll need to budget for that when you decide how much you want to borrow. An Avant medical loan may also come with high APRs, especially if you have bad credit. Read our full Avant personal loan review.
| Starting APR | 18.00% - 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,500 - $20,000 |
| Loan terms | 24 to 60 months |
| Origination fee | 1.00% - 10.00% |
| Minimum credit score | Not specified |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Offers secured and unsecured loans Quick funding timeline No prepayment penalties | High minimum APR Low maximum borrowing amount Charges an origination fee |
OneMain Financial offers both secured and unsecured loans. This may be good news for bad-credit borrowers since secured loans — which require collateral — can be easier to qualify for than unsecured loans. OneMain Financial may approve and fund your loan within one business day of receiving your application.
This lender charges an origination fee that can range from 1.00% - 10.00% and only offers loan amounts up to $20,000. Read our full OneMain Financial personal loan review.
OneMain Financial doesn’t provide much transparency about its personal loan requirements. What we do know is that before closing on a loan, you’ll be required to provide the following:
| Starting APR | 11.69% - 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 - $50,000 |
| Loan terms | 36 or 60 months |
| Origination fee | 5.25% - 9.99% |
| Minimum credit score | 560 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Offers an autopay discount Provides free credit monitoring Funding may be available within one business day | Charges an origination fee Charges late payment fees Limited repayment term options |
Universal Credit offers free credit monitoring services to its borrowers. This can help you track your credit as you make repayments on your loan. Plus, Universal Credit borrowers may receive funds within one business day.
On the other hand, Universal Credit loans come with a 5.25% - 9.99% origination fee. Bad-credit borrowers may pay APRs as high as 35.99%, and this lender does not allow joint applications. Read our full Universal Credit personal loan review.
Universal Credit provides a clear picture of the criteria applicants will need to meet to get a medical loan:
| Starting APR | 8.49% - 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 - $50,000 |
| Loan terms | 24 to 84 months |
| Origination fee | 1.85% - 9.99% |
| Minimum credit score | 580 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Long loan terms Allows joint applications Offers autopay discounts | Charges late fees Charges an origination fee |
Upgrade offers joint loans to consumers who have bad credit. Adding a second person to your medical loan application can make it easier to qualify and receive lower rates. Upgrade customers may also qualify for long loan terms and interest rate discounts if they sign up for autopay.
Upgrade borrowers will have to account for a one-time origination fee ranging from 1.85% - 9.99%. You could also get stuck with APRs as high as 35.99%, particularly if you have bad credit. Read our full Upgrade personal loan review.
Unfortunately, Upgrade doesn’t provide much insight into its medical loan requirements:
| Starting APR | 6.40% - 35.99% |
| Loan amounts | $1,000 - $50,000 |
| Loan terms | 36 and 60 months |
| Origination fee | Up to 12.00% |
| Minimum credit score | 300 |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Works with inexperienced borrowers Fast funding timeline Offers prequalification | Limited repayment terms No option for cosigners or joint loans Charges an origination fee |
Upstart uses its artificial intelligence-enabled lending platform to assess applicants’ creditworthiness and considers factors beyond just your credit score, such as employment and education. This nontraditional approach may make it easier for consumers with bad credit or little credit experience to qualify for a loan with lenders on its marketplace. Once you close on your loan, you may receive your funds quickly, often within one business day.
However, if you borrow a medical loan through Upstart, you may have to pay an origination fee as high as 12.00%. Borrowers also don’t have the option to add a co-borrower or cosigner to their loan, so you’ll need to be able to qualify on the strength of your individual application. Read our full Upstart personal loan review.
Unlike some companies, Upstart is upfront about its personal loan requirements. Here’s what you need to know:
If you need to fund a medical procedure or pay for emergency medical expenses, you may be considering a medical loan. When you have bad credit, it may be more challenging to qualify for financing. Here’s what you’ll need to know when taking out a medical loan with bad credit:
Medical loans for bad credit are like any other type of personal loan. If you have less-than-ideal credit, consider taking some time to boost your chances of loan approval before applying. However, if you’re in need of a medical loan in a hurry, you’ll need to take the following steps:
Yes — you can get a loan if you have bad credit, but you’ll likely have to pay higher interest rates that may not make taking on the debt worth it. If you choose to move forward with a bad-credit loan, you can always refinance the personal loan down the line if you improve your credit score.
You may need to consider a medical loan if you need treatment as soon as possible or don’t have insurance to cover a procedure. According to a 2022 LendingTree survey, as many as 23% of Americans have medical debt.
The credit score needed for a personal loan depends on the lender, though most require a score of at least 580. However, to qualify for a lender’s lowest rates, you’ll need an excellent credit score.
There is no definitive credit score needed to get a medical credit card, though many lenders require at least a 660 score. If your credit score is less than ideal, check the criteria for credit cards for bad credit to see if you qualify.
