Waivers of insurance deductibles--charity or crime?

Many physicians occasionally waive insurance deductibles and copayments for their patients. Some do it routinely and advertise the fact. Aetna Life Insurance Company in 1988 called this practice fraud, a position The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association subsequently took (1). However, it is all too easy to apply that label without analyzing the facts. This article examines the practice of waiving copayments and deductibles, describes recent developments in the area, and offers some guidelines for physicians.