Subprime consumers make up a permanent 17% of US adults, about 44 million people, and increasingly mix credit cards, BNPL, informal borrowing, and payment plans to cover everyday costs, according to a PYMNTS Intelligence report. Young subprime consumers feel the squeeze most in healthcare, with 23% delaying a doctor’s visit and others skipping treatments, not filling prescriptions, or rationing medication. Care costs get covered through family loans (38%), payment plans (31%), and BNPL or installments (26%) among young subprime consumers. Thin credit access defines the group, with 35% holding no credit or store card and BNPL use at 19% versus 13% overall, pointing to an underserved market for payments and healthcare-finance providers.
