When is a co-payment typically paid by a patient?

A co-payment is typically paid by a patient during the patient's visit at the time of service. This payment is part of the cost-sharing mechanism in insurance plans, where the patient agrees to pay a fixed amount for specific services (such as office visits, specialist consultations, or prescriptions) at the time they receive those services. This structure helps streamline the billing process for healthcare providers and ensures that the patient acknowledges their share of the healthcare cost upfront.

Other options relate to different billing scenarios or payment processes, but they do not reflect the standard practice associated with co-payments. The immediate collection during the visit helps ensure that healthcare providers receive payment promptly, contributing to the overall efficiency of medical billing and insurance operations.