The Hidden Cost of Not Offering a Modern Financing Experience (And Why It Matters for Fertility Clinics)

What Your Clinic Might Be Losing (Without Realizing It)

Most fertility clinics know that price matters — but fewer recognize how much the patient’s experience of paying affects starts and revenue. Clinics that don’t modernize how they present, integrate, and support financing are leaving money on the table — and unintentionally adding friction to the patient journey.

In this blog, we’ll explore the hidden cost of not offering a modern financing experience, why patients abandon treatment even when they want to move forward, and what your clinic can do about it.

Why the Payment Experience Matters More Than Ever

Patients today expect transparency, simplicity, and digital convenience in every high-stakes decision — and fertility care is no exception. In healthcare decision making, financial experience and clarity are often stronger predictors of action than cost alone.

Even when clinics offer financing, the way it’s presented and delivered matters:

• Complex or confusing presentations cause hesitation
• Paper-based or manual processes reduce completion
• Lack of digital options makes price comparison easy for patients

What clinicians often overlook is that financing isn’t just a payment tool — it’s part of the patient experience. And poor experience has real downstream costs.

The Hidden Costs Your Clinic Might Be Experiencing

1. Lower Start Rates, Even With Strong Demand

High consult volumes don’t always translate into starts — particularly if:

• Patients don’t receive clear, timely financing guidance
• Paying feels intimidating or unstructured
• They have to delay decisions to “figure out finances”

Patient decision paralysis often stems from process friction, not lack of desire. The same applies in fertility: the more steps it takes to understand or act on financing, the more starts you lose.

2. Increased Workload on Financial Coordinators

Without streamlined tools and clear automation:

• Coordinators repeat the same explanations multiple times
• Each patient conversation takes longer
• Throughput decreases, and costs per conversion increase

A manual, ad-hoc financing workflow costs time — and time is staff cost. Reducing repetitive work can free your team to focus on meaningful counsel, not administrative burden.

3. Higher Patient Drop-Off Between Steps

Even when pricing is communicated, patients often drop off:

• Between consult → financial conversation
• Between plan review → consent
• Between approval → treatment start

This “micro-drop” effect is well documented in healthcare journeys where step complexity increases drop-off exponentially. Every additional form, touchpoint, or unclear explanation predicts lower completion. 

4. Lost Revenue Through Cancelled Starts and Delayed Treatment

Delay is revenue loss. When patients hesitate — even for a few weeks — they’re more likely to:

• Reconsider treatment entirely
• Explore other clinics
• Decide based on short-term affordability instead of long-term outcomes

Clinics with seamless financing experiences see shorter time from consult → start, which drives higher conversion and improved financial performance.

What a “Modern Financing Experience” Really Means

A modern financing experience isn’t just “having financing available.” It’s about removing friction, building trust, and helping patients move forward without delays or confusion.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Simple, Digital First

A modern experience should feel effortless for patients:

• Mobile-friendly, easy to complete from anywhere 
• Apply in under 60 seconds 
• No paperwork or back-and-forth

Transparent & Integrated

• Clear monthly payment options
• Easy patient portal to manage financing
• Straightforward terms with no surprises

Educative, Not Salesy

• Positioned as a planning tool
• Clear, pressure-free explanations
• Builds patient confidence and trust

Fast Decisions

• Quick decision + clear next steps
• Patients can transact same-day once approved
• Keeps momentum from consult to start

Studies have shown that reducing choice complexity and improving decision support increases patient follow-through in healthcare settings. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Actionable Steps Clinics Can Take Today

Standardize How You Present Financing

Create scripts, slides, or digital workflows that present costs clearly, explain monthly options simply and answer common questions up front.

2) Automate Where Possible

Use tools that send automated follow-up reminders, allow digital review of terms, and give patients a portal view of options.

3) Train Your Team

Align your care coordinators, financial team, and front desk so that financing is consistent, supportive, and part of the care conversation, not an add-on.

4) Track Conversion Metrics

Look at: consult → start rates, time between financing offer → consent, and cancellation reasons tied to pricing. Data helps you refine the experience over time.

Modernize the Patient Payment Experience

Not offering a modern financing experience doesn’t just cost patient satisfaction — it costs starts, revenue, staff time, and competitive advantage.

Fertility care is a high-stakes journey. A financing experience that feels outdated or confusing can drive hesitation at precisely the moment patients want confidence and clarity.

PatientFi helps fertility clinics modernize the payment experience with flexible financing built for fertility care — including Digital Wallet¹ financing up to $50,000, zero interest plans², and terms up to 84 months³. Patients can use their Digital Wallet¹ across their entire journey, from treatments and medications to labs, testing, and other out-of-pocket expenses — helping more patients move forward without delay.

Ready to modernize your fertility financing experience and convert more patients into starts? Schedule a demo today!

¹ You can transact on your approval multiple times up to your approved credit limit within 120 days of approval.
²Zero interest when paid in full during the promotional period.
³All loans subject to credit approval. A $10,000 loan would have 84 monthly payments of $151 at 6.99% APR, which assumes excellent credit and enrollment in monthly autopay. Actual APR may be higher. Your fixed rate and repayment terms are based on your creditworthiness and are disclosed in your loan agreement.