Emergency Copay

A copay is a fixed price you usually pay when you get care. The amount of the copay can change depending on where you go. You may have a $30 copay for a primary care doctor visit. A specialist visit may take a $50 copay. A trip to the ER could be as much as a $200 copay. Take a look at your member ID card. Covered services you receive. In this case, you would pay a $25 copay for the doctor’s ofice visit, a $25 copay for the X-ray, and either a $15 copay or 50 percent coinsurance (whichever is greater) for the generic drug. Your copays (except for prescriptions) contribute toward your out-of-pocket maximum. You pay a Copayment for each emergency department visit and a copayment for each hospital service. You also pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for your doctor's services, and the Part B Deductible glossary applies. A typical co-pay for emergency room services for an insured person is around $250, which may or may not be waived if you are admitted to the hospital. 2 However, with the advent of high-deductible health plans in recent years, even insured persons may have to foot the entire bill if they have not met the plan's annual deductible. Copay is typically a fixed fee you pay when you receive medical service, although, the amount is not always the same. It can change depending on the type of care you receive. For example, a visit to the doctor's office may come with a copay of $25, but an emergency room visit may be $200.

1. Emergency Payout
2. Er Copay Kaiser
3. Emergency Copy Of Birth Certificate
4. Er Copay Waived If Admitted

Copayments

Medical Debt Relief

Emergency Payout

American Rescue Plan: Copayment Cancellations and Refunds

Due to the passage of the American Rescue Plan in March 2021, copayments for medical care and prescriptions provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) during the period of April 6, 2020 through September 30, 2021 will be canceled. All copayments paid to VA for medical care and prescriptions during the period of April 6, 2020 to present will be refunded.

Please review the COVID-19 Medical Debt Relief page for answers to some common questions.
COVID-19 Medical Debt Relief FAQs

Enrolled Veterans will be assessed copayments for care or services (including urgent care) based on their eligibility and/or income on file in the VA health care system. For care or services furnished through the Veterans Community Care Program, the same copayment requirements will apply. Copayment rates are listed below.

For information on how to pay your bill or copayment, visit our Billing and Payments page.
Billing and Payments

Veteran Copayments— Published October 6, 2017

You can explore your eligibility for VA health care benefits using the online Health Benefits Explorer or by contacting the VA Call Center.

VA Call Center: 877-222-VETS (8387)
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET

Urgent Care (Community Care)

Veterans may be charged a copayment for urgent care that is different from other VA medical copayments.

• Copayments depend on the Veteran’s assigned priority group and the number of times an urgent care provider is visited in a calendar year.
• Copayment charges are billed separately by VA as part of VA’s billing process. There is no limit to the number of times a Veteran can go to an urgent care provider. For more information, visit the OCC Urgent Care page.
  OCC Urgent Care page

Outpatient Care

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Outpatient care is defined as primary or specialty care that does not require an overnight stay. Copayments for outpatient care are listed in the table.

NOTE: Veterans who have a service-connected rating of 10% or higher are not required to pay a copayment for outpatient medical care.

Inpatient Care

Inpatient care occurs when a patient’s condition requires admission to a hospital. There are two inpatient copayment rates: the full rate and the reduced rate. Veterans living in high cost areas may qualify for a reduced inpatient copayment rate. Copayment rates for an inpatient hospital stay are listed in the table below.

NOTE: Veterans who have a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher are not required to pay a copayment for inpatient medical care.

Medications

Medication copayments are required for each prescription, including each 30-day (or less) supply of maintenance medications prescribed on an outpatient basis for nonservice-connected conditions. This copayment may change annually.

Medication copayments are also charged for all over-the-counter (OTC) medications (like aspirin, cough syrup, and vitamins) that are dispensed from a VA pharmacy. You may want to consider purchasing over-the-counter medications on your own.

NOTE: There is an annual medication copayment cap of $700 for Veterans in Priority Groups 2 through 8. The medication copayment cap goes by calendar year (January 1 – December 31).

Veterans who have a service-connected rating of 40% or less, and whose income is at or below the applicable national income thresholds may wish to complete a medication copayment exemption test.

VA National Income LimitsVA Financial Assessment information

Emergency Copy Of Birth Certificate

Additional information on tiered medication copays can be found on the VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services website.

Geriatrics and Extended Care

Copayments for health care for older Veterans are based on three levels of care—inpatient, outpatient, and domiciliary (see below). Copayment rates will vary from Veteran to Veteran depending upon financial information submitted on VA Form 10-10EC, Application for Extended Care Services.

NOTE: Copayments for long-term care services start on the 22^nd day of care during any 12-month period. There is no copayment requirement for the first 21 days.

Resources

877-222-VETS (8387)
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST

VA Geriatrics and Extended Care Resources

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• VA Geriatrics and Extended Care
• VA Community Living Centers
• Respite Care
• Adult Day Health Care
• Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program