sliding scale
Income-adjusted fee structure
A sliding scale is a system where rates, fees, or other values adjust based on some variable factor.
Therapists may charge on a sliding scale according to income—wealthier clients pay more, poorer clients less.
The term applies to any graduated system: electricity rates on a sliding scale based on usage, a sliding scale of penalties depending on severity.
Having multiple levels
- income-basedCalculated from earnings
- means-testedContingent on financial status
- subsidizedOffset by external funding
- affordableReasonably priced
graduated · progressive · proportional · differential · variable · indexed · equitable · flexible
Standard of measurement
- graduatedCompleted formal studies
- divisionsSeparate portions of something
- incrementsUnits of increase
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
precision · ruler · calipers · dial · readout · indicator · markings · range
State of meeting criteria
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- benefitsGains or helpful effects
- assistanceSupport or aid given
- subsidyFinancial assistance from government
exemption · progressivity · equity · fairness · indexation · welfare · entitlement · bracket
tiered
Having multiple levels
- income-basedCalculated from earnings
- means-testedContingent on financial status
- subsidizedOffset by external funding
affordable · graduated · progressive · proportional · differential · variable · indexed · equitable · flexible · discounts
gauge
Standard of measurement
- graduatedCompleted formal studies
- divisionsSeparate portions of something
- incrementsUnits of increase
calibration · precision · ruler · calipers · dial · readout · indicator · markings · range · spectrum
eligibility
State of meeting criteria
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- benefitsGains or helpful effects
- assistanceSupport or aid given
subsidy · exemption · progressivity · equity · fairness · indexation · welfare · entitlement · bracket · cutoff
- scalesweight, measure, balance, beam balance, pan balance
- slidingglide, slip, skid, slither, skim
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
- healthcare systemshospital system, public hospitals, health plan, HMO, single payer
- allocation methodslottery, quota, rationing, first come first served, merit-based
- pricing modelssubscription, volume discounts, bulk pricing, freemium, pay per use
sliding scalefixed rate
Unchanging interest percentage
flat rate · flat fee · fixed fee · set price · fixed price
scale, slide, scales, sliding, escalate, escalator, slides, scaling, scaled