US Medical Term · billing
Self-Pay
Pago Propio
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Self-Pay |
| Spanish (Español) | Pago Propio |
| Chinese (中文) | 自付费用 |
| Korean (한국어) | 자기 부담 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tự Thanh toán |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Self-Pay (Sariling Bayad) |
| Portuguese (Português) | Pagamento Próprio |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ชำระเงินเอง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 自己払い |
What it means
Self-pay refers to a patient who does not have health insurance or who chooses to pay for a medical service out of pocket rather than through insurance. Self-pay patients are often initially billed at the chargemaster rate—the hospital's highest list price—though most facilities offer self-pay discounts or sliding-fee scales. Federal law requires hospitals to screen self-pay patients for charity care eligibility before sending bills to collections. Always ask about the self-pay discount, available payment plans, or charity care programs before paying any bill in full, as the reduced price can be substantially lower than the original invoice.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
self-PAY
pago propio o paciente sin seguro
Also called 'uninsured patient' or 'private pay'
También llamado 'paciente sin seguro' o 'pago privado'
At check-in: 'Are you self-pay or do you have insurance today?'
'¿Paga usted mismo o tiene seguro hoy?'
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026