About Hannibal Regional
Hannibal Regional Healthcare System (HRHS) is a non-profit, independent healthcare system serving northeast Missouri, western Illinois, and southern Iowa. With roots dating back to 1901, the system has grown from a single hospital into a comprehensive regional network, supporting more than 1,500 team members across 13 locations.
Driven by a mission to “lead [its] region to better health,” the organization combines clinical excellence with a community-centered approach to care, offering services ranging from primary care to advanced surgical and diagnostic care.
Recognized as one of the best places to work in healthcare, HRHS prioritizes a culture of service, compassion, and continuous improvement for both patients and the dedicated people who care for them.
The History
As a mission-driven healthcare system, HRHS knows that access to care begins with affordability. While their high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) were designed to offer long-term savings and flexibility, leadership noticed a pattern: employees wanted to choose an HDHP, but were wary of the upfront costs.
Initially, HRHS considered increasing HSA contributions, but it quickly became clear that wasn’t the full answer. What employees needed was an uncomplicated way to access care when it mattered, without financial friction.
The Opportunity
After exploring different solutions, HRHS decided that offering Paytient’s Health Payment Accounts (HPAs) to HDHP-enrolled team members was the best course of action. Rather than provide a one-time deposit, the HPA offered something more empowering: a revolving, interest-free line of credit that employees could use to pay for care over time with zero fees, and no stress.
With spending limits matched to their deductibles, employees gained a clear, flexible way to move forward with care they may have otherwise delayed.
The Solution
The HRHS team, long committed to caring for others, found in Paytient a tool that helped extend that same care inward - to their own people. From primary care to vet visits, employees could swipe their Paytient card and split expenses into manageable payments through payroll deductions.
It wasn’t just about enabling care; it was about restoring confidence and agency.
The Results
In just the first six months, team members used their Paytient cards to unlock nearly $90,000 in healthcare.
But beyond the numbers, something more meaningful emerged: a shift in behavior.
A shift toward preventive, proactive care
At the start of the program, the average transaction size was $624.87, suggesting that employees were waiting to seek care until it became urgent or unavoidable. But by year’s end, the average transaction had dropped to $162.55 — a massive 74% decrease.
That shift tells a powerful story: With a better way to pay for care, HRHS team members began accessing more routine, preventive services — the kind that help catch issues early and avoid major costs down the road.
In short, they were empowered to stop delaying care and instead, start writing their own healthcare stories, on their own terms.
Reinforcing the local health system
Paytient didn’t just help employees — it strengthened the health system, itself.
Of the total spend, 28% went to HRHS providers. That’s over $40,000 reinvested directly into HRHS clinics, pharmacies, and hospitals
The most-used providers included:
- Complete Family Medicine (a service of Hannibal Regional)
- Hannibal Regional Health System
- General Veterinary Clinics
- Hannibal Regional Pharmacy
- Hannibal Regional Hospital Billing
By removing financial barriers to care, Paytient helped team members stay within the Hannibal ecosystem and created a virtuous cycle that benefited patients, providers, and the larger community.
The Impact
In just one year, Paytient has become a trusted resource at HRHS. Now, team members can afford the care they need, when they need it, while supporting the long-term sustainability of the health system itself.
“We introduced Paytient to help our HDHP-enrolled employees meet their deductibles. What we didn’t expect was how quickly it would empower them to be proactive with their health — and how much of that spend would come back into our own system. It’s made a real difference, both financially and culturally.” — HRHS Benefits Team
Hannibal Regional’s partnership with Paytient is a testament to what’s possible when employers truly invest in both their people and their purpose. By equipping employees with a way to pay that makes care truly accessible, HRHS is helping them design a healthier future, one payment at a time.
Want to learn more about you can help your people access and afford care? Visit www.paytient.com/employers.
