In plain English
It means a set charge rather than an amount that changes with the total price. The insured person pays that charge as their share whenever they receive covered care or a covered prescription.
In context
Here, it labels the fixed cost-sharing amount the insured person pays toward a covered medical service or prescription each time it is received.
- Situation
- Reading premium, deductible, excess, copay, limit, and out-of-pocket fields
- What it communicates
- labels a cost-sharing charge in the health plan summary
Meaning limits
The term alone does not tell how much that fixed amount is.
Examples
“She paid a $20 copay for the covered prescription, even though the medicine itself cost much more.”
“At each covered clinic visit, he pays the copay at the front desk.”