Albertsons Now Offers CareCredit Payment for Health and Wellness Products

As economic challenges persist, more shoppers are relying on credit cards to cover essential purchases. In response, Albertsons Companies, including its network of stores like Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, ACME, Shaw’s, and Jewel-Osco, has announced that they will now accept Synchrony’s CareCredit credit card for health and wellness products.

CareCredit, already accepted at major retailers like Walgreens, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Rite Aid, allows customers to buy now and pay later for essential health and wellness items. These include pharmacy expenses such as prescriptions and deductibles, over-the-counter health products (first aid, vitamins, cold and allergy medications), personal care items (oral care, ear and eye care, hygiene), select beauty and hair care products, pet food and supplies, as well as baby essentials like diapers and formula.

Recent studies highlight a growing trend of consumers turning to buy now, pay later options for essential purchases like groceries and health products. According to a report from The Urban Institute, 33% of adults use credit cards to pay for groceries and fully repay their balance, while 20% carry over balances but always make the minimum payment. However, 7.1% of users fail to make even the minimum payment, raising concerns about debt management.

Additionally, 37% of consumers who used buy now, pay later methods for groceries in the past year missed payments on their loans. Marketing research from Vericast shows that 32% of consumers are actively seeking ways to finance purchases and delay payments, with three in five people having used a buy now, pay later option at checkout.

Once mainly used for big-ticket items, installment plans are now becoming more common for everyday essentials. According to a PYMNTS report in late 2023, six in 10 consumers—especially millennials—have used installment plans to pay for products in the last year, further solidifying the shift in how people manage their financial needs.