Which term describes the billed first when you receive healthcare?

• A. Medicare
• B. Medicaid
• C. Champva
• D. Primary Insurance

Answer: (D)

When you receive healthcare, the term for the payer that is billed first is primary insurance. In many cases a patient has more than one source of coverage, so the primary insurer is billed first and pays its allowed benefits. Any remaining charges can then be billed to a secondary insurer, if there is one, or to the patient. The specific programs listed—Medicare, Medicaid, and CHAMPVA—are examples of payers that can act as primary depending on the situation, but the general concept is the first payer used in the billing process: primary insurance.