Understanding Health Insurance:

What is a Copay?

A copay is a fixed, set amount of money you must pay each time you visit the doctor or purchase medication when using your health insurance plan.

The amount of the copay is preset by your insurance provider and will be the same fixed amount no matter how often you use the plan, whether that is once a year or twenty times a year. Generally, you will be asked to pay your copay while actually at the doctor’s office or pharmacy. For plans with copays, the set amount typically varies based on the type of doctor or prescription being used. For example, a primary care physician may have a different copay than a specialist, and a brand name prescription may have a different copay than a generic prescription.