noncompensated

Noncompensated is an adjective meaning not provided with compensation or remuneration; not paid or offset by payment from a recipient or payer. The term is used across different contexts to contrast with something that is compensated or reimbursed.

In labor and education, noncompensated work refers to tasks performed without direct pay. Unpaid internships and volunteer roles are common examples. Legal and regulatory frameworks in various countries address when such work is permissible, often requiring that the arrangement primarily serves an educational purpose and does not exploit workers. Some jurisdictions require payment for certain forms of employment or limit the use of unpaid labor to appropriate settings.

In health care, noncompensated care (often called charity care) denotes medical services provided to patients who cannot pay and for which the provider does not expect reimbursement from patients or insurers. Hospitals may classify noncompensated care separately from bad debt, the latter arising when patients previously had the ability to pay but fail to do so. Noncompensated care is frequently subsidized or offset by government programs, philanthropy, or hospital subsidies, and it is a common metric in health policy and hospital accounting to gauge access to care and the financial burden on providers.

Beyond these domains, the term can describe any service, work, or loss that is not compensated. The exact meaning and implications are highly context-dependent.