Question
What's the average patient acquisition cost in healthcare?
Answer
Patient acquisition cost in healthcare typically runs between $150 and $350, though it varies widely by specialty, location, and the channels a practice uses. Competitive elective fields tend to sit at the higher end.
| Factor | Effect on cost |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Elective and cosmetic fields (surgery, orthodontics) run higher |
| Location | Dense, competitive markets raise cost per patient |
| Channel | Paid search and ads cost more, referrals cost the least |
Referral-based acquisition is consistently the cheapest path, which is why printed referral cards and physician outreach materials remain a low-cost complement to digital marketing for many practices.
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