A small fixed fee paid by the patient at the time of an office visit is called

• A. Premium
• B. Copayment
• C. Deductible
• D. Co-payment

Answer: (D)

A fixed, small amount paid by the patient at the time of a visit is a co-payment (also commonly written as copayment). This is a predefined amount in a health plan that you pay directly to the provider when you receive a service, regardless of the total bill. It’s a straightforward cost-sharing arrangement that helps both the patient and insurer share the cost of care and keeps routine visits predictable.

This is different from a deductible, which is the amount you must pay out of pocket before the insurance starts covering expenses. It’s also not a premium, which is the regular payment you make to maintain the insurance policy. And it’s not coinsurance, which is a percentage of the costs you pay after meeting any deductible. So the fixed visit fee described fits the concept of a co-payment.