waive out-of-pocket costsz

[GoodTaste]

Does "waive out-of-pocket costs" mean "give up the money"? That is, if you see a doctor, you have to pay the doctor moeny. Now the doctor gives up the money. So seeing the doctor is free of charge.

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California on Thursday became the latest state to order insurance companies to waive out-of-pocket costs for coronavirus testing.


The California Department of Insurance and Department of Managed Health Care ordered all full-service commercial and Medi-Cal plans to “immediately reduce cost-sharing — including, but not limited to, co-pays, deductibles or coinsurance — to zero for all medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19, including hospital, emergency department, urgent care and provider office visits where the purpose of the visit is to be screened and/or tested for COVID-19.”

Source: From SF Chronicle
https://www.sfchronicle.com/busines...(Premium)&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral

 

[GoesStation]

Partly. It means the insurance companies will not be allowed to make their customers pay part of the bill for this testing. So the patients won't pay anything, but the doctors and testing laboratories will be paid by the insurance companies.

 

[SoothingDave]

The patients will pay when their insurance rates increase for the next year. There is no free lunch.

 

[GoesStation]

The patients will pay when their insurance rates increase for the next year. There is no free lunch.

But the prospect of an expensive co-pay (the part of the bill the patient has to pay) won't discourage anyone from being tested. That's the purpose of the rule.