What is the term for the fixed amount a patient must pay for a specific health service?

The term that describes the fixed amount a patient must pay for a specific health service is known as co-payment. This is a cost-sharing arrangement where the patient pays a predetermined sum at the time of receiving medical care, in addition to what their insurance will cover. Co-payments are commonly applied for services such as doctor visits or prescription medications, and they encourage patients to share in the cost of their care while also having health coverage.

Other terms like deductible, coinsurance, and premium relate to different types of payments in health insurance. A deductible is the amount a patient must pay out-of-pocket before their insurance kicks in for covered services, while coinsurance is the percentage of costs that the patient pays after meeting their deductible. A premium is the regular payment made to maintain health insurance coverage, independent of any services rendered. Each of these terms plays a distinct role in health insurance and understanding them helps clarify the overall cost-sharing framework in healthcare.