How to Pay for Dental Work in Mexico: Cards, Cash, Financing, and HSA

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at virtually every U.S.-patient-focused Tijuana clinic. American Express is more limited but available at larger practices. Expect a 3–4% foreign-transaction fee unless you use a no-FX card (Chase Sapphire, Capital One Venture, Schwab debit). The merchant fee is sometimes passed to the patient — confirm before swiping.

Cash is widely accepted and sometimes earns a 3–5% discount because it eliminates the card processing fee. For large cases, declare amounts over $10,000 when crossing the border (FinCEN Form 105). Most patients split — card for the deposit, cash for the balance at the chair.

For full-arch and full-mouth cases ($15,000+), wire transfer is common and often the cheapest option. Expect a $25–$45 wire fee from your U.S. bank and a 1–2 business day processing time. The clinic will confirm receipt before your appointment.

Use your HSA debit card directly if accepted, or pay another way and reimburse yourself with an itemized receipt. Implants, crowns, root canals, and other restorative dentistry qualify under IRS Publication 502.

CareCredit is accepted at some Tijuana clinics that have partnered with U.S. processors. LendingClub Patient Solutions offers 24–60 month plans up to $50,000 for dental — independent of the clinic. Some clinics also partner with Mexican financers offering 6–12 month no-interest plans.

Most Tijuana clinics require a 25–50% deposit to reserve surgery dates, with the balance due before the prosthesis is delivered. For two-trip implant cases, half is typically paid on Trip 1 and the rest on Trip 2.

Never wire to an individual's personal account — only to the registered clinic business account. Avoid clinics that demand 100% upfront before any work begins. Don't pay in Mexican pesos unless you got a favorable exchange rate; clinics quote in USD for a reason.