What is the difference between coinsurance and copayment?
Under a copayment or copay provision, the insured usually is required to pay a set or fixed dollar amount (e.g., $3, $5, or $10) each time a particular medical service (like a doctor visit or a lab service) is used. Copay provisions are frequently found in medical plans offered by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) where a nominal copayment is applied to each office visit and to each prescription that is filled.
On occasion, these terms have been used interchangeably. However, it is preferable to define the two terms differently, despite their similarity of purpose. Under a copayment or copay provision, the insured usually is required to pay a set or fixed dollar amount (e.g., $3, $5, or $10) each time a particular medical service is used. Copay provisions are frequently found in medical plans offered by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) where a nominal copayment is applied to each office visit and to each prescription that is filled.
On occasion, these terms have been used interchangeably. However, it is preferable to define the two terms differently, despite their similarity of purpose. Under a copayment or copay provision, the insured usually is required to pay a set or fixed dollar amount (e.g., $10, $20, or $30) each time a particular medical service is used. Copay provisions are frequently found in medical plans offered by health maintenance organizations (HMOs) where a nominal copayment is applied to each office visit and to each prescription that is filled.
On occasion, these terms have been used interchangeably. However, it is preferable to define the two terms differently, despite their similarity of purpose. Under a copayment or copay provision, the insured usually is required to pay a set or fixed dollar amount ($5, $10, and $20) each time a particular medical service is used. Copay provisions are frequently found in medical plans offered by Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) where a nominal copayment is applied to each office visit and to each prescription that is filled.
