Overview
When patients finance through Affirm in the Patient App, they pay 0–36% APR based on their credit history and your practice’s Affirm financing program. Affirm shows exact payment plan options: monthly payment, term length, maximum interest, and total cost, before the patient confirms. Affirm does not charge patients late fees or hidden fees beyond what they agree to on day one.
This article is for front-desk staff, managers, and admins who answer patient questions about Affirm costs and set expectations before checkout.
Before You Start
Exact terms appear at Affirm checkout, you cannot quote a specific APR for a patient before they apply.
Your practice’s Affirm merchant program affects which term lengths and rates Affirm offers.
Affirm approval is not guaranteed. Partial approvals may require a down payment.
For the checkout path, see Help patients access Affirm as a payment option (Admin Panel).
Why It Matters
Patients often ask about monthly payments before they commit to a treatment plan. When your team understands Affirm pricing basics, you can:
Set honest expectations without guessing at a patient’s specific APR.
Explain the no-fee policy: Affirm does not charge late fees.
Handle partial-approval conversations when a down payment is required.
Direct detailed credit questions to Affirm instead of improvising answers.
How It Works
APR range: Affirm transactions through RepeatMD carry 0–36% APR, depending on the patient’s credit history and your practice’s Affirm program. The exact rate appears in the payment plan options at checkout.
Payment plan options: When a patient selects Affirm at checkout, Affirm presents 1–3 options with terms from 3 weeks to 36 months. Each option shows:
Monthly payment amount
Term length
Maximum interest on the loan
Total of all payments
No surprise pricing: Patients never pay more than they agree to on day one. Affirm does not charge late fees or other hidden fees. Affirm assumes repayment risk.
Truth in Lending Disclosure: Before confirming, the patient reviews a disclosure with the number of payments, amount per payment, and first due date.
Partial approval and down payments: If Affirm does not approve the full cart amount, the patient may be offered a down payment to proceed. Rules:
The patient cannot edit the down payment amount.
The patient cannot request a down payment if Affirm did not offer one.
See When a patient is denied by Affirm (Admin Panel) for decline and partial-approval guidance.
What your practice receives: Your practice receives the full transaction amount upfront when the patient completes an Affirm purchase. Affirm collects installment payments from the patient directly. See Manage Affirm payments and transactions (Admin Panel) for reporting and payout detail.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Explain Affirm pricing to a patient before checkout
Tell the patient Affirm is available for eligible in-app purchases between $50 and $30,000 USD.
Explain that Affirm shows exact payment options at checkout after a real-time application — you cannot quote their specific APR in advance.
Mention that rates range from 0–36% APR depending on eligibility and your practice’s program.
Note that Affirm does not charge late fees and the total cost is fixed before they confirm.
Walk the patient through checkout in the Patient App so they can review Affirm’s plan options on their device.
If the patient has credit-specific questions, direct them to Affirm at helpcenter.affirm.com or 855-423-3729.
Best Practices and Pro Tips
Do not guess APR. Always defer to the options Affirm displays at checkout.
Quote ranges, not promises. “Rates range from 0–36% APR depending on eligibility” is accurate; “You’ll probably get 0%” is not.
Highlight no late fees. This is a common patient concern and a key Affirm differentiator.
Explain down payments calmly. Partial approval is not the same as a full denial, the patient may still complete the purchase.
Use Affirm-approved messaging when promoting financing in marketing materials.
Common Mistakes and FAQs
Q: Can I tell a patient their exact monthly payment before checkout?
A: No. Exact terms appear only after Affirm’s real-time application at checkout.
Q: What APR will my patients pay?
A: Between 0–36% APR, depending on credit history and your Affirm program. Each patient sees their specific options before confirming.
Q: Do patients pay late fees with Affirm?
A: No. Affirm does not charge late fees. Patients pay the total they agree to on day one.
Q: What if a patient is asked for a down payment?
A: Affirm sets the down payment when the patient is not approved for the full cart amount. The patient cannot change the amount. See When a patient is denied by Affirm (Admin Panel).
Q: Does Affirm affect my practice’s payout amount?
A: Your practice receives the full transaction amount upfront. Affirm collects installments from the patient. See Manage Affirm payments and transactions (Admin Panel).
Q: Where can patients learn about Affirm and credit scores?
Next Steps and Support
Affirm: helpcenter.affirm.com or 855-423-3729
Rates from 0–36% APR. Payment options through Affirm are subject to an eligibility check, may not be available everywhere, and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders.
Should your patient have any additional questions not covered above, we recommend they contact Affirm Customer Care Team at 855-423-3729