FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 22, 2026 
Contact: Jack Cardinal, jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org 

BOSTON, MA — Health justice advocates in Connecticut and across the country are celebrating a new state law that will protect people from the predatory marketing of credit cards and other financing products in doctors’ and dentists’ offices. The law, introduced by state Rep. Gary Turco, bans financial products, like medical credit cards, being marketed when patients are receiving healthcare services or are under anesthesia. Patients must also complete financing applications themselves, ensuring they remain fully in control of their financial decisions. It also prohibits healthcare providers from charging for services that haven’t yet been performed or from receiving financial compensation for marketing financial products.  
 
Medical credit cards are third-party financing products marketed specifically for healthcare expenses. They are often presented as “no interest” options, but many carry interest rates exceeding 30% and include deferred-interest terms that can add substantial costs if the balance is not paid off within a promotional period. In many cases, interest accrues from the date of purchase and is applied retroactively to the full amount if even a small balance remains.   

According to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, patients who were assessed deferred interest paid, on average, 23% more than the original purchase price. Nearly 40% of subprime cardholders did not pay off their balances before the promotional period ended. There are approximately 66,000 deferred-interest medical credit card accounts in Connecticut. 
 
“Connecticut’s actions are a model for the nation. Even though federal actions to address the medical debt crisis have slowed in recent years, there are a plethora of actions states can take to address this part of the affordability crisis,” said Shaina Goodman, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at Community Catalyst. “We are grateful Community Catalyst was able to provide some of the unbiased and factual information that helped state lawmakers overwhelmingly support this common-sense consumer protection policy.”  

Due to its longstanding relationship with Connecticut advocates and lengthy past federal advocacy on medical credit cards and medical debt, Community Catalyst staff were invited to provide recommendations on the legislative language, testify at the bill hearing, draft a memo to the co-chairs of Connecticut’s General Law Committee highlighting inaccurate testimony provided by industry leaders during the bill hearing, and more.  

“I’m proud that my colleagues and I were able to come together and take action to protect our constituents from predatory medical debt practices,” said state Rep. Turco, the vice chair of the General Law Committee. “I’m grateful to Community Catalyst for its support and expertise that helped educate my colleagues in the Legislature on the issue to make an informed vote. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.” 
 
Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the United States, affecting over 100 million people across every community — both insured and uninsured. Millions of people are blocked from buying homes, starting businesses, or securing loans simply because they accessed the essential care they needed. Families are forced to drain savings, skip essentials like food, or sign up for high-interest credit cards just to pay medical bills.  
 
Voters overwhelmingly name healthcare affordability as a concern and a desire for government to play a greater role in reducing costs and improving healthcare access.   

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About Community Catalyst:  

Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for racial equity and health justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and healthcare are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org.