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Charge Item Coupons (Beta)

Discount one-time charges like labs, supplements, and visits with a coupon code.

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Written by Vivian Guan

This feature is in beta đŸ§Ș

Charge item coupons are in beta. Behavior and design may change as we incorporate beta feedback. To turn them on for your practice, contact Hint Support.

Charge item coupons let you discount non-membership charges, like labs, supplements, procedures, or visits, with a coupon code. You can apply them yourself when adding a charge, or let patients enter the code on your online checkout pages.

Charge item coupons are separate from membership coupons, which discount recurring membership fees.

Create a charge item coupon

  1. Go to Admin → Membership Options → Coupons.

  2. Click New Coupon.

  3. Under Coupon Type, select Charge Item ("Discount on one-time charge item").

  4. Enter a code and choose a percent off or a dollar amount off.

  5. Save.

Apply a coupon to a charge

You can add a coupon when creating a new charge or when adding a charge from a patient's invoice.

  1. Open the Create Charge or Add Charge window and choose the charge item.

  2. In the Coupon field, select a coupon from the list or type a code and click Apply.

  3. Review the total. You'll see "Saved $X on this charge," with the original total struck through next to the discounted total.

  4. Save the charge.

Only charge item coupons appear in this list. If you enter a code that doesn't exist, you'll see "We couldn't find code
". Expired coupons can't be applied.

Good to know

  • Each charge can have one coupon. You can apply different coupons to different charges on the same invoice.

  • If a coupon expires after you've applied it, the charge keeps its discount.

  • The coupon field is unavailable if your role can't change pricing on the charge.

Let patients use a coupon at online checkout

If you sell charge items through an online checkout page (Admin → Signup Pages, page type Checkout), patients can enter a charge item coupon before paying.

Online SignUp Setting (Practice User)

  1. Under admin, click Online Signup

  2. Scroll down and toggle on Allow Coupons

Checkout Page (Patient)

  1. On the confirmation step, the patient clicks Have a discount code?

  2. They enter the code. The amount due in the sidebar updates to show the discount.

  3. When they pay, they're charged the discounted amount, and the coupon is recorded on the charge.

Invalid or expired codes are rejected with a message, and no discount is applied. Membership coupon codes can't be used on checkout pages, and charge item coupon codes can't be used on membership signup pages.

How coupons work with coverage plans

A coupon and a coverage plan rule don't stack. If a member's coverage plan already discounts a charge item, Hint compares the two and applies whichever gives the patient the lower price.

Example: A charge item costs $50. The member's coverage plan takes $18 off, and a 20% coupon would take $10 off. The coverage rate applies, and the coupon shows "Not applied — a coverage plan rule already gives a lower rate."

If coverage changes on a draft charge, for example a rule is added or removed or a plan is readjudicated, Hint recalculates automatically. If the coupon becomes the better rate, it's applied without you needing to re-save the charge. Charges on issued invoices don't change.

How coupons appear on invoices

When a coupon is applied to a charge:

  • The invoice line shows a coupon badge, like SAVE20 · 20% off or SAVE10 · $10.00 off.

  • The line amount shows the original price struck through, next to the discounted price.

  • The totals include a Coupon savings line. The subtotal shows the price before coupons, and the total reflects the discount.

  • The invoice PDF shows the same coupon, strikethrough, and savings line.

If coverage gave the lower rate, the line shows your usual membership savings and no coupon badge.

Remove a coupon from a charge

  1. Edit the charge.

  2. Clear the coupon from the Coupon field.

  3. Save.

The charge returns to its full price, or its coverage rate if one applies. You can only change coupons on charges that haven't been issued.

Turn off coupons on online signup and checkout pages

If you don't want to offer discount codes online:

  1. Go to Admin → Online Signup → Global Settings.

  2. Turn off Allow Coupons.

This hides the discount code field on both checkout pages and membership signup pages. Codes that are already circulating also stop working online. Patients can still complete their purchase or signup, just at full price. You can still apply coupons yourself from the provider portal. This setting is on by default.

Limitations

  • Coupons can't be applied to packages.

  • One coupon per charge.

  • Coupons can't be added, changed, or removed on issued invoices.

  • Charge item coupons are created and managed in Admin → Membership Options → Coupons, alongside membership coupons.

FAQ

Can I use a membership coupon on a charge?

No. Membership coupons and charge item coupons are separate types, and each only works in its own place.

Why didn't my coupon apply?

Most often, the patient's coverage plan already gives a lower price for that item. Hint shows "Not applied — a coverage plan rule already gives a lower rate" when this happens. Otherwise, check that the coupon is a charge item coupon and hasn't expired.

Will the coupon apply if the patient's coverage changes later?

Yes, as long as the invoice is still a draft. Hint re-checks which rate is lower whenever coverage on the charge changes.

Can a patient combine a coupon with their membership discount?

No. The patient gets whichever is lower, not both.

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