(payment)

/ˈpā-mənt/

noun

  1. the act of paying

  2. something that is paid : pay

  3. requital

noun

  1. a relatively small fixed fee that a health insurer (such as an HMO) requires the patient to pay upon incurring a medical expense (as for a routine office visit, surgical procedure, or prescription drug) covered by the health insurer

… patient out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and co-payments have grown alongside overall [health care] costs.

noun

  1. a part of the full price paid at the time of purchase or delivery with the balance to be paid later; broadly : the first step in a process