Copay.
In plain English
A copay, short for copayment, is a fixed dollar amount you pay out of pocket for a specific covered service, such as a doctor visit, a prescription, or an urgent care trip. Your health plan sets the amounts, and they can differ by service. Copays are separate from your deductible in many plans, meaning you may owe a copay even before you have met your deductible. They give you a predictable price for routine care, unlike coinsurance, which is a percentage of the bill.
01Why it matters
Copays are the everyday, visible cost of using health insurance, and knowing yours helps you predict what routine care will actually cost you at the counter.
02The math, step by step
Your plan lists a 25 dollar copay for a primary care visit. You pay 25 dollars at the desk, and the insurer settles the rest of the visit's cost with the provider.
03What this is NOT
A copay is NOT a deductible. A copay is a small flat fee per service; the deductible is the larger amount you must pay in total before the plan starts covering most costs.