co-pay
UK[ˈkəʊ peɪ]US[ˈkoʊ peɪ]
n
A fixed fee that a person with health insurance pays for a covered medical service, such as a doctor's visit or prescription drug, at the time the service is received.
v
To pay a fixed fee for a covered medical service at the time it is received.
Morpheme Breakdown
co
pay
co
together/jointly
pay
to give money
Etymology
The term 'co-pay' is a modern American English compound, originating in the mid-20th century within the context of health insurance. It is formed by combining the prefix 'co-', from Latin 'com-' meaning 'together', with the verb 'pay'. The literal construction implies a shared or joint payment, where the insured person pays a portion 'together with' the insurance company, which covers the remainder. This structure directly reflects the financial arrangement it describes, evolving from the abstract notion of shared obligation into a specific, fixed transactional fee at the point of service.
Analysis
Structure: co (together/jointly) + pay (to give money)
- co: A prefix from Latin 'com-', meaning 'together', 'with', or 'jointly'. It functions as a combining form indicating partnership or shared action.
- pay: A verb from Old French 'paier', from Latin 'pacare' meaning 'to appease, pacify, satisfy (a creditor)'. It functions as the core verb meaning to give money in exchange for goods or services.
Examples
My insurance plan has a $20 co-pay for each visit to a specialist.
You will need to co-pay for the medication when you pick it up from the pharmacy.
The policy's low monthly premium is offset by a high co-pay for emergency room visits.