1
: allowing customers to pay for goods or services without assistance (as by using a payment kiosk)
a self-pay parking garage
self-pay gas stations
2
: making payment (as of a medical bill) with one's own money rather than money from another source (such as a health insurance company)
Self-pay patients who are uninsured will typically pay roughly 25 to 40 percent of the total price for ER visits—so the larger the charge, the larger the out-of-pocket bill.—
Anna Wolfe
: relating to or involving payment (as of a medical bill) with one's own money
Anna Wolfeself-pay treatments/procedures
the hospital's self-pay options
The increase in insurance deductibles and self-pay portions of costs for outpatient services …—Pamela Sherrod
Pamela Sherrod… the hospital said the MRI price in the survey was too high. But it would not disclose what it said would be the self-pay price.—Anna Werner
Anna Werner
self-paid
ˈself-ˈpād 
; self-paying; self-pays
; self-paying; self-pays
: to pay (something, such as a medical bill) with one's own money rather than money from another source (such as a health insurance company)
The average person cannot afford to self-pay for bariatric surgical procedures …—Neil Hutcher
Neil HutcherExamples of self-pay in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 1 Apr. 2026
On March 31, Novo launched a subscription plan for Wegovy's self-pay patients.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
And an assignment to a hallway bed may reflect triage bias against patients who are on Medicaid or who self-pay.
—Jay Baruch, STAT, 18 Mar. 2026
The big-box warehouse chain is partnering with Sesame and IVI RMA to offer self-pay patients expanded access and more affordable care.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
Among the 22 hospitals with open calculators, 82% showed cash discounts—a positive step for the uninsured or self-pay crowd.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Prescriptions via Novo Nordisk’s self-pay channel account for about 30% of total prescriptions for Wegovy, the company said in latest financial report, released Tuesday.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
The new pill will cost $25 or less in copay per month if covered by insurance and between $149 and $299 per month for self-pay, according to the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
The pill version is less expensive than the injectable one, which carries a $349 monthly price tag for self-pay consumers, though new patients can receive two months of the lowest two doses for $199 each until March under a company promotion.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2026
Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2023
Vasectomy services are available at Planned Parenthood for insurance or self-pay, and there are no grants or financial aid available, officials say.
—Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023
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Adjective
Similar drugmaker discounts are available for the Wegovy pill, with monthly costs as low as $25 for insured patients and $149 for self-pay.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 1 Apr. 2026
On March 31, Novo launched a subscription plan for Wegovy's self-pay patients.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
And an assignment to a hallway bed may reflect triage bias against patients who are on Medicaid or who self-pay.
—Jay Baruch, STAT, 18 Mar. 2026
The big-box warehouse chain is partnering with Sesame and IVI RMA to offer self-pay patients expanded access and more affordable care.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
Among the 22 hospitals with open calculators, 82% showed cash discounts—a positive step for the uninsured or self-pay crowd.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 28 Feb. 2026
Prescriptions via Novo Nordisk’s self-pay channel account for about 30% of total prescriptions for Wegovy, the company said in latest financial report, released Tuesday.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
The new pill will cost $25 or less in copay per month if covered by insurance and between $149 and $299 per month for self-pay, according to the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
The pill version is less expensive than the injectable one, which carries a $349 monthly price tag for self-pay consumers, though new patients can receive two months of the lowest two doses for $199 each until March under a company promotion.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
The cost for the procedure at the University of Maryland Medical Center ranges from $28,000 to $30,000 for patients like Carlson who self-pay, according to a spokeswoman for the medical center.
—Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2023
Vasectomy services are available at Planned Parenthood for insurance or self-pay, and there are no grants or financial aid available, officials say.
—Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Self-pay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-pay. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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