fee-for-service

noun

fee-for-ser·​vice ˌfē-fər-ˈsər-vəs 

often attributive

: separate payment to a health care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient

Examples of fee-for-service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Traditional Medicare is often unaffordable for seniors, lacks crucial benefits like dental and vision, and its fee-for-service model incentivizes procedures over preventative care. — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

In the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program, the number of procedures has declined steadily in recent years, from about 169,000 in 2014 to 91,000 in 2024, federal data shows. — Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal, CBS News, 13 July 2026

The new fee-for-service codes will better accommodate more or fewer visits, either in person or remotely, based on individual needs. — Kff Health News, Oc Register, 5 June 2026

Some clinics in the United States operate on a fee-for-service model, and tests and treatments must be paid for out of pocket. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fee-for-service

• interservice
• disservice
• preservice
• nervous
• nervus

Medical Definition

fee-for-service

noun

fee-for-ser·​vice ˌfē-fər-ˈsər-vəs 

: separate payment to a health care provider for each medical service rendered to a patient

—often used attributively

a fee-for-service group plan