Insurance and billing
Copay
Also called copayment
A fixed dollar amount a patient pays for a service, set by the plan.
A copay is a flat fee the patient pays at the time of a visit or service, as set by the insurance plan. For example, a plan might require a set amount per visit or per type of service. It differs from coinsurance, which is a percentage. Dental HMO-style plans commonly use copays on a fixed schedule. Collect the copay at check-in or checkout and record it correctly.
Example at the front desk
Her copay for the exam is on the card, so I collected it at check-in.