The pace of transformation in healthcare payments is accelerating, driven by innovation, consumer expectations, and rapidly evolving technology. At Alegeus’ 2025 Partner Summit, Mastercard’s presentation, “Racing Toward the Future of Payments,” explored how healthcare payments will evolve by 2030. The session highlighted five major trends that will redefine how TPAs, payers, providers, and employers operate. Here’s what to know.
The outdated model of static passwords and manual logins is being replaced by digital identity (digital ID) solutions that offer secure, seamless authentication. Biometric payments are forecasted to grow to $37.4 billion by 2033. And Mastercard expects 100% of its transactions to be tokenized by 2030. These developments promise not only tighter security but more fluid experiences for users.
In the healthcare context, TPAs will rely on digital ID to help defend against the surge in account takeover attacks — up over 90% year-over-year. Providers will benefit through streamlined patient onboarding and easier access to medical services. Meanwhile, payers will be able to accelerate member enrollment and coverage confirmation, reducing administrative burden and improving onboarding outcomes.
Digital wallets, once simple payment tools, are quickly becoming dynamic financial hubs. With transaction volumes projected to hit $16 trillion by 2028, these wallets are evolving into personal command centers that integrate identity, finance, and life management.
For patients and providers, this means digital wallets will serve as repositories for health records, which can be shared in real time during appointments — making interactions smoother and payments timelier. TPAs can use these tools during open enrollment to simplify processes like benefit renewal, life event documentation, and personalized plan recommendations. Payers, in turn, can streamline premium collection and claims disbursement, while taking advantage of built-in fraud protection and service customization.
Payment acceptance is being revolutionized by technologies like SoftPOS, which allow smartphones to function as payment terminals. This shift breaks down long-standing barriers, enabling more merchants — including healthcare providers — to offer digital, convenient payment options.
Healthcare stakeholders stand to gain significantly. TPAs can enhance the HSA and FSA experience by integrating with mobile wallets, which are already used for more than half of HSA/FSA payments as of 2024. As more merchants begin to accept IIAS transactions, TPAs will also play an important role in guiding both employers and employees on proper usage. There’s even potential for TPAs to partner with merchants on educating consumers, at the point of sale, about which items qualify as eligible medical expenses.
Providers and payers alike can benefit by accepting cross-border payments and offering digital wallet support for international patients. Issuing prepaid virtual cards to members enables faster upfront healthcare payments and streamlined reimbursements.
Cybercrime is now a $14 trillion industry, and healthcare remains one of its most vulnerable targets. With cyberattacks growing in sophistication, and healthcare data frequently exploited, the industry must shift from reactive defenses to proactive, coordinated security strategies.
By 2030, AI will play a central role in fraud prevention, moving beyond detection to real-time containment and prediction. Technologies like federated learning will allow fraud models to instantly adapt and protect networks based on new threats. Quantum computing also looms on the horizon, threatening to upend current encryption methods, but also creating opportunities for next-generation defense.
This matters deeply for healthcare. The five largest breaches in 2024 affected millions of patients and eroded trust. With “card not present” fraud accounting for 66% of consumer-directed healthcare fraud, AI-powered, networked defenses are the only viable path forward.
The healthcare payment landscape is rapidly expanding to include a diverse ecosystem of players, from fintech and neobanks to industry alliances and social platforms. This convergence is creating entirely new models for delivering seamless financial services.
In this future, TPAs will need to embrace open banking, promote “card on file” behaviors among employees, and form partnerships with local merchants and transit networks. This shift from traditional partnerships to dynamic ecosystems unlocks new value for all stakeholders.
Providers and payers can benefit from unified platform models where EMRs, health plans, and financial tools integrate to offer features like automated claims, one-click co-pays, and card-on-file billing for telehealth.
The convergence of AI, digital identity, embedded finance, and global payment ecosystems presents an unprecedented opportunity for the healthcare industry. These trends aren’t just ideas; they are a roadmap to a future where payments are smarter, faster, and more human-centered.