Synchrony’s CareCredit Card Now Accepted at All Public Veterinary University Hospitals in U.S.

Synchrony is expanding the reach of its CareCredit credit card through a partnership with the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. The collaboration between Synchrony and the hospital means cardholders can use their CareCredit credit card in all 29 of the U.S.’s public veterinary university hospitals. 

CareCredit is a health and wellness card that helps consumers pay for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Synchrony’s agreement with the Texas A&M hospital is the latest example of the company’s commitment to helping pet owners access medical care for their pets. 

Jonathan Wainberg, Synchrony’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, Pet, said in a press release announcing the deal that CareCredit’s availability at veterinary universities across the country enhances access to medical care and provides pet owners with financially flexible options.

“With Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital now on board, CareCredit is available at 100% of public veterinary university hospitals nationwide,” Wainberg said. “This reinforces our mission to making quality pet care accessible for pet parents and equipping veterinary professionals with the resources they need to treat patients.”

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital services a broad range of animal species and is home to one of the most significant veterinary referral networks in the U.S., according to the press release.

Prospective cardholders can determine if they prequalify for the card on the CareCredit website.

The hospital’s acceptance of CareCredit positions pet owners to select financing options that best suit their needs. Consumers can determine if they prequalify for the card in real time by visiting CareCredit’s website and seeking a prequalification decision. Those who prequalify for the card can submit an application immediately.

Synchrony’s CareCredit card is accepted at more than 26,000 veterinary offices in the U.S., but that’s just a fraction of the number of locations where cardholders can use the card. More than 270,000 locations nationwide accept the card, which cardholders can use to pay for expenses related to their own health needs as well as those of their pets.

In addition to veterinarians, many dentists, dermatologists, and eye-care professionals accept the card, which cardholders can also use to pay for expenses at select retailers. Cardholders can search for locations that accept the card on CareCredit’s website.

CareCredit customers have opened more than 39 million accounts since the company’s founding in 1987. The business completed a study in 2023 that revealed that 95% of CareCredit cardholders who participated in the survey ranked the card as providing “good to excellent value”.

Health and wellness credit cards can be attractive financial tools to consumers who seek rewards when they spend money on health-oriented products and services. 

CareCredit’s Rewards Mastercard allows consumers to earn points on certain purchases they make with the card. They can exchange their earned points for gift cards, merchandise, or statement credits. But health and wellness credit cards can introduce advantages to more than just cardholders.  

Credit card issuers exploring whether to add a health and wellness card to their menu of payment offerings should familiarize themselves with the plethora of benefits that type of card can bring issuers.

Rewards offerings can increase customer loyalty. Coupling that loyalty with a health-conscious consumer can lead to a lengthy, profitable relationship for both cardholder and issuer.

Many healthcare expenditures are recurring costs. By offering a health and wellness credit card, issuers can seek to capture repeated purchases cardholders make for goods and services that improve their health, including gym memberships and preventive healthcare programs.

Offering a card that focuses on health and wellness can help issuers stand out in a competitive market, attracting the attention of consumers in search of a credit card issuer that promotes healthy lifestyles. And partnering with an established name in the healthcare space can lend further credibility to providers of health and wellness credit cards.

Dr. Stacy Eckman, Associate Dean for Hospital Operations & Chief Executive Officer at Texas A&M’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, said in the press release that the collaboration between Synchrony and her employer offers “a solution that supports both optimal patient outcomes and financial peace of mind.”

“This relationship will reinforce our commitment to delivering high-quality veterinary care while addressing financial barriers,” Eckman added.