Using a credit card to pay medical bills might seem easy, but it can cost you more over time.

Here’s why:

• Higher costs. Credit cards often have high interest rates, late fees, and penalties. These can be more than what most medical providers charge.
• Fewer protections. Once medical debt is on a credit card, it becomes credit card debt. You may lose the chance to get financial help, and the debt can be reported on your credit report.
• Deferred interest can cost a lot. Some medical credit cards offer "deferred interest" for a period of time. But if you do not pay the full amount by the deadline, you may have to pay interest on the whole original amount. This can happen even if you owe a small amount at the end of the deferred interest time period.