Office Administrative Assistant Practice Exam

At the check-out desk, when asking the patient to pay $25.00 for today's office visit, what is the Medical Administrative Assistant asking the patient to pay?

1. Deductible

2. Copay

3. Fee for service

4. Balance due

The correct answer is: Copay

The Medical Administrative Assistant is asking the patient to pay a copay. A copay is a fixed amount that a patient is required to pay for a specific service, such as an office visit, at the time of the appointment. It is typically predetermined by the patient's insurance plan and is separate from any deductible or the overall cost of the service. This payment structure helps both the patient and the healthcare provider by ensuring that the patient contributes to the cost of care while also allowing the insurance to cover the majority of the expense. The $25.00 stated in the question represents the patient's obligation for a routine visit, which aligns with the copayment model commonly used in health insurance plans. In contrast, a deductible refers to the amount a patient must pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services before their insurance coverage kicks in, while a fee for service indicates a more general payment structure that pertains to the overall charge for the services rendered, rather than a specific patient charge at checkout. A balance due might refer to any remaining amount that is owed after insurance payments have been applied, which is different from an upfront copayment.