How To Offer Finance For Fertility Treatment

Customer finance, explained for fertility providers

Customer finance lets your patients spread the cost of treatment over an agreed term, while your clinic is paid promptly through a regulated lender or lending panel. In UK fertility, this is increasingly becoming part of the expected service because private IVF costs can be substantial and NHS access varies by location and eligibility. Rather than relying on ad-hoc deposits, staged payments, or informal arrangements, a structured finance option helps you present fees clearly and consistently at consultation. The key is that you remain a healthcare provider, not a lender: you introduce the finance option, the customer applies, and the lender makes the credit decision. Done well, finance supports informed consent around costs and reduces delays between treatment planning and starting cycles.

Why patients choose finance in IVF

For many patients, fertility treatment is time-sensitive, emotionally demanding, and difficult to budget for in one upfront payment. As out-of-pocket spending rises, more patients actively look for 0% or low-APR options over 12 to 36 months, reflecting wider UK consumer expectations for larger purchases. In practice, demand is particularly strong among privately paying patients in their 30s and early 40s, where the likelihood of needing more than one cycle can also shape decision-making. Patients are not only trying to “afford” treatment, they are trying to control cashflow and uncertainty, especially when considering add-ons, extra medication, embryo storage, or multiple-cycle programmes. When finance is presented transparently, with clear totals and term choices, it can feel like a patient-centred service rather than a last resort.

How finance supports revenue and smoother conversions

Offering finance can remove the single biggest point of friction in private fertility: the moment a patient receives a treatment plan and cost breakdown, then pauses to “think about it” for weeks. A well-structured finance option turns a large, daunting total into manageable monthly repayments, which can improve acceptance of treatment plans and reduce drop-off after consultation. It also protects your clinic’s cashflow compared with extended internal payment schedules, while keeping decisions consistent and compliant. In the UK market, 12-month 0% APR offers have become a common benchmark (often with caps around the low five figures), with longer terms typically available at a modest positive APR. By presenting a range of terms, you can serve both cost-conscious patients and those prioritising the lowest monthly payment.

Typical transaction values in UK fertility

Standout line: In many UK clinics, a 12-month 0% option is no longer “premium” finance - it is what patients increasingly expect to see.

What you can offer finance on

1. IVF and ICSI treatment packages

2. Fertility diagnostics and scans

3. Medication costs (where permitted to include)

4. Embryo freezing and storage fees

5. Donor-related programmes (where applicable)

6. Surgical sperm retrieval and associated procedures

7. Multi-cycle or refund-style programmes (where structured through partners)

FCA and compliance essentials in plain English

Because fertility finance is regulated consumer credit, you need to present it fairly and clearly, with accurate cost information and no pressure selling. Your clinic should avoid making promises about acceptance, APR, or eligibility, as the lender must assess affordability and creditworthiness. Any marketing should be transparent about key features such as term length, representative examples where required, and any fees that may apply. Staff should know what they can and cannot say, and you should keep records of how finance is introduced alongside pricing, ensuring patients have time and information to make an informed decision.

The introducer and broker approach (and why it matters)

Most clinics use an introducer model: you introduce patients to a regulated broker or lender panel, and the patient applies directly. The broker then routes the application to suitable lenders, and the lender makes the final decision, issues the agreement, and manages repayments. This matters operationally because it keeps your clinic focused on care while still giving patients a credible, FCA-regulated route to credit. In the current UK fertility landscape, clinics commonly offer a short-term 0% option (often for 12 months, sometimes capped around £12,000) and then provide longer terms such as 24 to 48 months at a low, positive APR for patients who prefer a lower monthly payment. With the right setup, decisions can be near-instant online once a patient has a clear treatment plan and cost breakdown.

A clear patient journey you can implement

1. Confirm the treatment plan and full cost during or immediately after consultation, including what is included and what may be additional.

2. Introduce finance as a standard payment option alongside pay-in-full and any package choices.

3. Share term choices (for example, 12 months for faster repayment and longer terms for lower monthly costs), without implying guaranteed approval.

4. Direct the patient to the application via your clinic’s finance page, tablet in clinic, or a secure link sent by email/SMS.

5. Patient completes the application online and receives a decision from the lender.

6. Clinic confirms the agreed scope of treatment matches the financed amount before scheduling.

7. Patient signs the credit agreement with the lender and sets up repayments (typically by direct debit).

8. You begin treatment once confirmations are in place and your internal checks are complete.

9. Maintain a single point of contact (often a patient coordinator) for non-clinical questions about process and next steps.

Next-step suggestions

• Add a “Finance options” step to your consultation checklist so it is offered consistently.

• Update your website pricing pages to include example monthly repayments for typical baskets.

• Train coordinators on compliant language, especially around APR, acceptance, and affordability.

Getting started with Kandoo

To get started, align internally on which services you want to make finance-eligible and how you will present pricing at consultation, because clarity at the point of decision drives both approval quality and patient confidence. Kandoo can support clinics with a regulated broker model that offers patients choice of term, including options that can extend beyond a single cycle, and an online application journey designed to be quick and straightforward. Once set up, your team can introduce finance as a routine part of the payment conversation, then direct patients to apply after they have received a written cost breakdown. The goal is not to “sell credit”, but to remove uncertainty, keep total-cost transparency high, and help suitable patients start treatment sooner.

FAQs

Do UK IVF clinics typically offer 0% APR?

Many leading UK clinics now present 12-month 0% APR as a standard option for eligible patients, often with a maximum loan amount in the low five figures. Longer terms are commonly available at a low, positive APR.

What loan terms do patients usually want?

In practice, patients often choose between a shorter 0% option for faster repayment and longer terms (such as 24 to 48 months) to reduce the monthly payment. The best approach is to offer a range so patients can match repayments to their budget.

Can we include medication and add-ons in the financed amount?

Often yes, but it depends on how your pricing is structured and what the lender will support. The simplest patient experience is a clear, itemised cost breakdown with a single financed total agreed before treatment begins.

What if a patient has bad credit?

Not every applicant will be accepted for prime offers, but some patients may still have options through alternative lending criteria. Clinics should signpost finance as an option without judgement, and ensure patients understand that approval and pricing depend on the lender’s assessment.

Will offering finance slow down our admin?

If implemented properly, it usually reduces back-and-forth on payments because the application and decisioning are handled online, and your clinic can focus on scheduling once the agreement is confirmed.

Are we acting as a lender if we offer finance?

No. With an introducer or broker model, your clinic introduces the option and the lender provides the credit, makes the decision, and manages repayments. Your role is to present information fairly and direct patients to the regulated application journey.

What APR should we advertise on our website?

Only advertise terms, APRs, and examples that are accurate for the finance product you are introducing. Avoid blanket promises and ensure any figures shown are compliant and kept up to date.