out-of-pocket

1 of 2

adjective

out-of-pock·et ˌau̇t-ə(v)-ˈpä-kət

: requiring an outlay of cash

out-of-pocket expenses

out of pocket

2 of 2

adverb

: from cash on hand : with one's own money rather than with money from another source (such as an insurance company)

With so many people willing to pay out of pocket most insurance companies do not pay for the procedure, because they regard it as "cosmetic" …—

Kenneth Chang

chiefly British

: in the position of having lost money

On Oct. 7, the government suddenly pulled the plug on Railtrack PLC, the privatized owner of Britain's railway infrastructure, leaving the company's 250,000 shareholders out of pocket.—

Kerry Capell

: out of funds : without money

My wife and I are already consumers of Straus's organic yogurt, butter, cream and ice cream, although I admit when I am feeling out of pocket I opt for a slightly cheaper competitor.—

Larry Gallagher

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Researchers explored the economic burden caused by health inequities when someone dies prematurely or must pay out-of-pocket costs and third-party payments to health-care providers for emergency room visits, ambulance services, or vision and dental care. —

Akilah Johnson, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 On average, the report noted, a taxpayer spends roughly 8 hours and $140 in out-of-pocket costs just to prepare and file their return, including all forms and schedules for nonbusiness income. —

Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 16 May 2023 Even with Medicare coverage, Glenda Presley’s out-of-pocket costs for blood thinners can cost hundreds of dollars a month. —

Talmon Joseph Smith Karl Russell, New York Times, 14 May 2023 Health insurance claims for his treatment totaled nearly $600,000, and the family’s out-of-pocket expenses came to almost $40,000 as of February. —

David Hilzenrath, Anchorage Daily News, 13 May 2023 Requiring a hospital stay of three days or longer before being transferred to a skilled rehab facility, critics say, delays necessary care and can lead to extra out-of-pocket costs for people in Medicare. —

Richard Eisenberg, Fortune Well, 12 May 2023 As for treatments, insured patients will likely have to start paying out-of-pocket to cover at least part of the cost once stockpiles run dry. —

USA TODAY, 11 May 2023 That gift card can be used to buy a case and screen protector to safeguard your new smartphone or to lower your out-of-pocket cost on a larger purchase. —

Jade Chung-lee, PCMAG, 11 May 2023 The harm, Pearson said, is that ultimately, people who need those drugs may not be able to afford rising health insurance and out-of-pocket costs. —

Ambar Castillo, STAT, 10 May 2023

Adverb

Seniors on Medicare will pay no more than $35 per month out of pocket, thanks to a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that went into effect Jan. 1. —

Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 14 Mar. 2023 Biden will also propose benefit changes that includes limiting to $2 how much a Medicare recipient must pay out of pocket for certain generic drugs. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2023 When the coupon expires, she and other patients will be forced to pay out of pocket. —

ABC News, 23 Feb. 2023 For people in those situations, paying for health care out of pocket or applying to public programs are not viable options. —

Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 30 Dec. 2022 When starting a varsity team just depended on procuring a mat, Benson paid thousands out of pocket. —

Aj Traub, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Dec. 2022 Wegovy, for example, costs over $1,300 per month and is taken over the long term, so many patients can’t afford to pay for it out of pocket. —

Elaine Chen And Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Dec. 2022 Visitors would need to pay out of pocket, with the Financial Times reporting one couple paid $170 each for a dose. —

Bloomberg, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2022 The costs are usually rolled into the mortgage, meaning borrowers won't have to pay them out of pocket — though this does reduce the loan amount available to them. —

Becca Stanek, The Week, 19 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'out-of-pocket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.