[This post was originally published on 22nd May 2023. It has been updated on 27th August 2025.]

Delivering an exceptional patient experience goes beyond great adjustments and personalized care, it also extends to how patients pay for services. For many chiropractic clinics, outdated payment systems can lead to delays, frustration, and even missed payments. Improving the chiropractic payment process not only boosts revenue but also strengthens patient trust and loyalty.

Recent studies show that 82% of patients prefer digital payments over traditional methods like cash or checks. In addition, practices that offer flexible payment options are 25% more likely to get bills paid on time compared to those with limited payment methods.

In this blog, we’ll explore the latest solutions to collect patient payments online, highlight strategies to increase patient payments, and show you how digital tools can transform your patient payment experience.

1. Tap, Dip, or Swipe: Credit/Debit Card Payments Still Matter

Today, convenience is king, and that includes how patients pay for care. Whether it’s a quick tap, a secure chip dip, or a traditional swipe, accepting credit and debit cards is no longer optional for chiropractic clinics. Study shows that practices using card-on-file solutions reduce outstanding balances by nearly 30% on average. That’s less time chasing payments and more time focusing on patient care.

How to bring this into your practice:

• Pick the right system – Choose a chiropractic payment solution that seamlessly integrates with your EHR to save time and avoid double data entry.
• Secure every transaction – Use PCI-compliant card readers that keep patient information safe and build trust.
• Offer card-on-file – Let patients securely save their card details so they don’t have to reach for their wallet at every visit. This not only streamlines checkout but also makes recurring visits stress-free.

Bottom line: Patients expect flexibility. By offering modern payment options, you make their lives easier while improving your clinic’s cash flow.

2. Mobile Wallets: The Rise of Contactless Payments

Think about the last time you paid with your phone instead of fumbling for a card or cash. For many patients, especially millennials and Gen Z, that’s quickly becoming the norm. Mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay aren’t just trendy; they’re the future of fast, secure transactions. According to a 2024 FIS study, nearly 50% of younger patients prefer contactless payments, with speed and security topping their list of reasons.

For a chiropractic clinic, this shift is more than a convenience upgrade, it’s a chance to show patients that your practice keeps up with modern expectations. Imagine a patient finishing an adjustment and checking out in seconds with just a tap of their phone. No lines, no swiping, no stress.

How chiropractors can adopt this trend:

• Upgrade your hardware – Invest in an NFC-enabled POS system that supports mobile wallets seamlessly.
• Empower your team – Train staff to confidently guide patients through their first mobile wallet payment (it only takes a few taps).
• Show it off – Display clear signage at your front desk so patients instantly know you accept contactless payments.

By embracing mobile wallets, you’re not just keeping up with payment trends, you’re sending a clear message: your practice values convenience, security, and a modern patient experience.

3. Online Payments: Meeting Patients Where They Are

Think about how people pay for almost everything today, shopping, streaming subscriptions, even utilities. Patients expect the same convenience from their healthcare providers. According to Experian Health’s 2025 survey, 63% of patients want digital channels to pay their medical bills. And here’s the kicker: clinics that provide secure online payment options see collections come in 40% faster.

For chiropractors, that means less time chasing down unpaid bills and more time focusing on care. Online payments aren’t just about convenience, they reduce friction, improve cash flow, and make the overall patient experience smoother.

Ways to accept online patient payments:

• Integrate payments with your EHR – Use a system that lets you send invoices by email or text with a secure payment link, so patients can pay instantly.
• Go mobile-friendly – Ensure your patient portal works seamlessly on smartphones, since most patients will pay bills on the go.
• Make it flexible – Offer recurring or installment payment options for patients on long-term treatment plans, so payments feel manageable.

By meeting patients where they already are, you remove barriers to payment and show that your practice values both convenience and flexibility. It’s a win-win: patients get a stress-free way to pay, and you get paid faster.

4. Membership Plans & Subscription Care

The subscription economy isn’t just for Netflix or the gym, it’s reshaping healthcare too. More and more chiropractic clinics are adopting membership and prepaid care models to create lasting relationships with their patients. In fact, according to Chiropractic Economics, membership models boost patient satisfaction, improve financial stability, and increase patient retention.

Why? Because patients love predictability. When care is bundled into a simple, flat monthly fee, it removes the stress of surprise bills and encourages them to keep showing up for their health. For clinics, it means less financial uncertainty and more loyal, engaged patients who commit to their care plans long-term.

How it helps both patients and clinics:

• Predictable budgeting for patients – No guesswork, no unexpected bills. Just one affordable monthly payment for ongoing care.
• Steady cash flow for your practice – Recurring revenue gives you financial stability, so you can plan and grow with confidence.
• Better health outcomes – Patients are more likely to stick with regular visits and follow care recommendations when they’ve already invested in a membership.

With zHealth Pay, you can chiropractic payment process improvement and you can securely enroll patients in automated monthly payments tied to membership or subscription plans. That means no more manual billing, fewer awkward payment conversations, and greater consistency in your revenue stream. Patients get convenience, you get reliability, and both sides win.

[Read More: Can Membership Subscription Model Disrupt Chiropractic Clinics]

5. One-Click & Saved Payment Methods

Today’s patients expect healthcare payments to be as simple as shopping online. According to a recent survey, 72% of patients are more likely to return to providers who offer one-click or stored card payments. In other words, convenience isn’t just nice to have anymore, it’s a deciding factor for patient loyalty.

Think about it: patients already tap their phones to buy coffee, order groceries, or book rides. When paying for care feels just as seamless, it builds trust and eliminates one of the biggest friction points in a clinic, the checkout process.

How to enable this convenience in your practice:

• Use a HIPAA- and PCI-compliant system – Protect patient data while making payments fast and secure.
• Offer one-click checkout via your patient portal – Let patients pay bills or co-pays in seconds from any device.
• Get patient consent before storing details – Keep it transparent and give patients peace of mind.

With zHealth Pay:
Chiropractors can securely store patient card details with proper consent and enable single-click authorization for future visits. That means no more chasing down payments, swiping cards every time, or creating awkward front desk bottlenecks. Patients enjoy a smooth, modern payment experience, and staff save hours of administrative work.

6. Digital-First Billing & Payment Communication

One of the most common reasons chiropractors lose revenue isn’t because patients don’t want to pay, it’s because they simply forget. Between busy schedules, family responsibilities, and digital overload, that paper statement in the mail is often ignored or misplaced. The result? Outstanding balances pile up, and clinics spend countless hours chasing payments.

But there’s a smarter way. With zHealth Pay, chiropractic payment process improvement becomes simple. zHealth Pay automates digital payment reminders, so you can turn the patient collections process into a reliable revenue stream.

How to make this work for your practice:

• Automate invoice delivery directly from your chiropractic EHR, no more printing, mailing, or manual chasing.

• Use friendly, patient-focused messaging, for example:
  “Hi Sarah, just a reminder your balance of $40 is ready to pay online. Click below to make payment: https://ghs803ns/pay”

• Provide multiple links (portal, text, email) so patients can pay in the way that’s easiest for them.

With zHealth Pay:

You can send automated digital reminders that nudge patients at just the right time. No staff intervention, no awkward conversations, just consistent collections flowing in the background. Patients appreciate the gentle reminders, and your team gets back valuable time to focus on care instead of chasing balances.

7. Flexible Financing Options

Today’s patients are juggling higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, which often makes them hesitate before committing to ongoing chiropractic care. The truth is, many patients want the care, they just need a way to manage the payments.

That’s where flexible financing steps in. According to CareCredit, nearly 68% of patients are more likely to proceed with recommended treatment when financing options are available. Instead of seeing cost as a barrier, patients view your practice as a partner that helps them access care in a manageable way.

How it helps both patients and your practice:

• Patients can commit to care plans without financial strain.
• Your practice improves collections with structured payment schedules.
• Trust and loyalty grow because patients see you care about their well-being, not just the bill.

Practical tip for chiropractors:

Offer financing through trusted providers like CareCredit, or better yet, integrate installment payment options directly into your EHR system. With zHealth Pay, for example, patients can spread out payments seamlessly, while you collect on time without chasing balances.

8. Integrated EHR, Billing and Payment Software

One of the biggest transformations in healthcare is the rise of integrated practice EHR software, a single platform that combines scheduling, charting, billing, and payments. Instead of juggling multiple tools and wasting time on manual processes, everything flows seamlessly in one place.

Why this matters:

a. Eliminates double-entry and manual reconciliation – no more entering the same data in multiple systems.

b. Delivers accurate reporting and real-time financial insights – helping you track revenue and spot issues early.

c. Simplifies workflows for staff – with one platform to manage appointments, payments, and patient records.

Compared to standalone EHR tools for small practices, integrated practice management software with built-in billing and payment solutions creates a foundation for growth. It supports scalability, automation, and stronger patient engagement, ensuring that as your clinic expands, your operations don’t get more complicated, they get smarter.

Conclusion

By offering a variety of payment options and implementing them effectively, chiropractors can significantly improve the patient experience when it comes to payments. Credit/debit cards, mobile wallets, online payment portals, membership plans, saved payment methods, and integration with chiropractic practice management software are valuable tools for enhancing convenience and streamlining financial transactions. By adopting these solutions, chiropractic practices can cultivate a patient-centric environment and strengthen patient satisfaction and loyalty.

If you want to streamline your practice operations and provide a seamless payment experience, zHealth’s chiropractic payment solutions can help. zHealth’s features include online scheduling, custom SOAP notes, billing, invoicing, payment processing, membership management, and 100s of other features. With zHealth, chiropractors can focus on providing quality care while ensuring frictionless and seamless payment interaction for their patients. Request a personalized demo to learn more about zHealth.

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