Medicare glossary
Copayment
A copayment, or copay, is a fixed dollar amount you pay for a specific covered service or prescription, such as $20 for a doctor visit. Copays are common in Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
Copays make costs predictable: you know the dollar amount up front rather than waiting to see a percentage of the bill. Original Medicare generally uses coinsurance (a percentage) instead, while Medicare Advantage plans typically use copays for visits, services, and drugs, all counting toward the plan's yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
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