Here are some frequently asked questions around Flywire payment plans.
Take Note: This list is written generically to encompass general payment plan behavior, and does not take into consideration a customer's specific configuration such as written policy for missed payments, default, financial assistance, etc. Please refer to your institution's policies for specifics around how your payment plans work in Flywire.
What is a payment plan in Flywire?
A way to pay an eligible balance over time on a schedule instead of in one lump sum. The experience can include accepting an offer, choosing terms, and then following an installment schedule until the balance is satisfied.What is the difference between autopay and paying manually?
With autopay, payments are taken automatically each cycle so the plan stays current. With manual pay, the patient reviews submits, and approves each payment; nothing is deducted automatically.Messaging in the product describes autopay this as “set it and forget it” versus approving each transaction.
What does “Your payment plan is in progress” (pending) mean?
The plan is not fully active yet. After the initial payment clears (often within about one to two business days), the plan becomes active and the patient may get an update on status.What does “good standing” vs “delinquent” mean?
Good standing means the plan is current with payments. Delinquent means the account is behind on payments. If a plan is delinquent Flywire prompts the patient to make a payment "today" to return to good standing.What happens if a scheduled payment is missed?
Missed installments can be tracked on the plan. Depending on organization rules and plan type, amounts may roll forward to a later installment, or the plan may eventually default after enough missed payments. Train your staff to follow your organization's policy and what they see on that account.What is a “defaulted” payment plan (high level)?
The plan is ended for default. Downstream handling (such as new offers or notices) depends on organization settings—for example whether bills are removed from an active offer or a final-notice style path is used.Can new charges be added to an existing plan?
Often, yes, when the product presents options to combine or roll up new balances or estimates with an existing plan. In other cases, new services may be offered on a separate monthly plan. What the patient sees depends on eligibility and how the offer was built.What is a service fee on a payment plan?
Many offers state that plans include a service fee (sometimes shown as a Flywire service fee in copy). Whether it applies is part of the offer and institution configuration.What actions can patients or staff take on an active plan?
The product surfaces actions such as:
Pay next installment, pay full balance, turn on or manage autopay, change the way you pay, modify the plan, pause, resume, cancel, view offer terms, view financed payment plan details (when applicable), remove bills, and similar.
These actions are subject to permissions and what the plan type allows.
What does pausing (freezing) a plan do?
While paused, payments are suspended, no payments are due, and statements are not mailed to patients for that plan. Staff see guidance that they must reactivate the plan from payment plan actions before other steps. Patients see that the plan is paused while the provider reviews the account and are told they will not be charged while paused, with a contact number for questions.Patients cannot pause plans, only staff users can do this. If someone needs a pause (for example during a financial assistance review), they should contact the provider / billing office (or your CSR team, depending on workflow), and an authorized user with the right access pauses the plan in the system.
What happens when a paused plan is resumed?
Missed or scheduled payments that were skipped during the pause are added to the end of the plan. The plan keeps the status it had before it was paused (for example good standing vs delinquent, as applicable). A confirmation email can be sent to the patient.Where can someone see past or inactive plans?
Plan history shows prior plans, grouped by guarantor when there are multiple guarantors on the account, with counts of inactive plans where the UI supports it.What does “You have met your monthly payment requirement” mean?
The patient has satisfied what was required for that monthly cycle on the plan (useful when explaining why a screen shows that message after a payment).- Are financed (third-party) plans the same as standard Flywire plans?
Not always. Financed plans can have separate details and cancellation paths integrated with the financing partner; staff should use “View financed payment plan details” and partner-specific procedures when those plans apply.