Medical Equipment Financing

Medical equipment financing is a loan or lease on clinical equipment, from an $80K ultrasound to a $3M MRI suite. Lenders underwrite the practitioner as much as the practice, so established practices often finance over 3–7 years with little or nothing down, and some programs defer the first payment 60–90 days while the equipment is installed and starts billing. Refurbished systems from an established refurbisher cost far less than new and finance the same way.

Typical 2026 pricing; used means refurbished by an established vendor. MRI and CT siting (shielding, power, cooling, rigging) often adds six figures and can usually be financed with the system.

Illustrative level monthly payments on the amount financed. Deferred-start programs shift the first payment, not the math.

Lenders underwrite a medical deal on the practitioner as much as the business: license, specialty, years in practice and personal credit. A licensed physician, dentist or veterinarian with steady collections is one of the strongest profiles in equipment finance, which is why established practices routinely see low down payments and longer terms.

It also means new practices can finance equipment before they have much history. A physician opening a practice after residency or leaving a group can often finance core equipment on personal credit and training, with a practice plan and projections filling in for the missing tax returns.

Insurance reimbursement commonly lags 30 to 90 days behind the procedure. Lenders know this, and the structures reflect it: a deferred first payment while a system is installed and credentialed, or step-up payments while volume builds. For imaging and other high-ticket equipment, expect the lender to ask how the equipment pays for itself. Have a simple model ready: expected procedures per month, net collections per procedure after payer mix, and the resulting coverage of the payment.

Refurbished imaging and diagnostic equipment often costs 30–60% less than new, and lenders finance it readily when it comes from an established refurbisher with a warranty and a service agreement. What the lender, and you, should confirm:

• The system’s age and the manufacturer’s end-of-support date for parts and software
• Who services it, and what the service agreement covers and costs
• The refurbisher’s process: replaced components, software version, acceptance testing

A system near its end of support gets a shorter term, because parts availability is the real limit on its useful life.

Imaging equipment rarely rolls in and plugs in. MRI rooms need RF shielding, dedicated power and cooling; CT and X-ray rooms need radiation shielding; heavy systems need rigging. Installation, training, software licenses and the first year of service can often be included in the financing, up to a share of the deal that varies by lender. Get the siting quote before you apply, so the approval covers the whole project.

Imaging and aesthetic technology moves quickly. A fair-market-value lease lets a practice upgrade on a five- to seven-year cycle without carrying resale risk. Long-lived equipment the practice will run for a decade is usually cheaper to own through a loan or $1 buyout lease. A financed purchase qualifies for Section 179 like a cash purchase, up to $2,560,000 for tax years beginning in 2026, when placed in service by December 31. Confirm the treatment with your CPA.

The same structures cover dental 3D imaging, chairside milling units and operatory buildouts, veterinary imaging and surgical suites, and specialty equipment in dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and physical therapy. When the need is operating cash rather than a device (payroll while claims process, a second location, a hygienist’s ramp-up), see working capital for dental practices or healthcare working capital. Multi-product options for practices are on the healthcare financing page, and one application at equipment financing goes to 100+ funding partners.