Key Takeaways:
- Health insurance is a crucial safeguard against unexpected medical costs.
- Understanding health insurance terms is vital to making informed choices.
- A deductible is the amount owed by the insured annually before the insurance plan starts to pay.
- Under the ACA, all co-payments and co-insurances count towards the deductible.
- Preventative care services, like physicals and flu shots, aren’t subject to the deductible.
Insurance Company (Key Health Insurance Terms)
- Premium – The amount you pay for your health insurance every month.
- Co-payments – A fixed fee amount you pay for a covered health care service.
- Deductible – The amount you owe for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay.
- Co-insurance – Your share of the costs of a covered healthcare service, calculated as a percentage.
- Maximum Out-of-Pocket or MOOP – The most you have to pay for covered services in a plan year.
- Network – The facilities, providers, and suppliers your health insurer has contracted with to provide health care services.
What is Coinsurance?
Coinsurance is the insurer’s share of the cost of a covered health service, calculated as a percentage. It can vary from 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, or even 90/10, always adding up to 100%.
Coinsurance & Metal Tiers
At the heart of your choices are coinsurance percentages and metal tiers.
These not only define how costs are split between you and the insurer but also directly impact your monthly premium. In essence, the more coverage you seek (like higher coinsurance or a Gold/Platinum tier), the higher your premium might be. Remember, choosing a plan isn’t just about numbers; it’s about finding a balance that feels right for both your wallet and peace of mind.
Confirm Coinsurance on your Health Plan
Metal tiers are often associated with coinsurance percentages.
However, it’s essential to approach these tiers with a discerning eye. Recently, there have been shifts in how insurance companies allocate coinsurance percentages within these tiers. Contrary to traditional expectations, a gold plan, for instance, might not always offer the anticipated 80/20 split; it could be a 60/40 plan instead.
It’s crucial to confirm the exact coinsurance percentage associated with any health insurance plan, regardless of its metal tier, to ensure you’re fully informed and making the best decision for your needs.
Deductibles and Coinsurance
Before the health insurance starts paying their coinsurance percentage, the deductible amount has to be met.
Example of How Coinsurance Works

Example of Coinsurance: If Jane’s plan has a $1,500 annual deductible and she has a 20% coinsurance, she will cover 100% of the costs before reaching the deductible. After meeting the deductible, she’ll pay 20% while the health plan covers 80%.
Why Choose marketplaceamerica.org?
Marketplaceamerica.org aims to simplify health insurance. What differentiates them?
- Full Integration with healthcare.gov: Offering the same plans at the same prices.
- One-minute quotes and 10-minute enrollments: Quick and easy.
- Personalized Assistance: Licensed agents help at no extra cost.
- Hassle-free Experience: Prioritizing your privacy.
- Affordable Options: Some health plans starting from $0/month.
Conclusion:
Health insurance doesn’t have to be daunting. Understanding terms like coinsurance can help you make informed choices. If you’re not insured, consider signing up for a health plan today. After all, it’s not just about insurance; it’s about peace of mind.
Remember: At Marketplace America, the aim is to provide more than just health insurance. They aim to give you peace of mind.
Click here to explore plans and prices on Marketplaceamerica.org
Engage With Us:
Liked this explanation?
Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for more insights. If you have questions or topics for future videos, drop them in the comments. We’re here to help!
FAQ: Understanding Coinsurance
Coinsurance, in the context of insurance, refers to the shared responsibility between an insurer and the insured for covering the cost of a claim. It is typically represented as a percentage, highlighting how costs are divided after any deductible has been met.
Coinsurance is a mechanism where the insured and the insurer share the costs of covered medical services. Once you’ve met your deductible, coinsurance dictates how the remaining costs are split. For instance, if your coinsurance is 20%, you pay 20% of the health care costs, while the insurance company covers the remaining 80%.
An 80% coinsurance implies that the insurance company will cover 80% of the costs for a covered medical service after the deductible is met. The remaining 20% will be the responsibility of the insured.
20% coinsurance means that once your deductible has been met, you will be responsible for 20% of the subsequent medical expenses. The insurance company will take care of the remaining 80%.
Coinsurance is a percentage of the cost you cover for a medical service after you’ve met your deductible. A copay, on the other hand, is a flat fee you pay for a service, regardless of the total cost. While coinsurance varies based on the total expense, a copay remains constant.
In healthcare, coinsurance is the percentage of medical expenses the patient is responsible for after meeting their deductible. It ensures that both the insurer and the insured share medical costs, promoting cost-effective healthcare choices.
A coinsurance deductible is the amount the insured needs to pay out-of-pocket before the coinsurance kicks in. After this deductible is met, the insurance company and the insured share medical costs based on their coinsurance agreement.
In medical billing, coinsurance refers to the portion of the medical service cost that the patient is responsible for paying, expressed as a percentage, after deductibles have been covered.
Coinsurance after deductible means that once the deductible amount is paid by the insured, the coinsurance percentage will dictate how the remaining costs are split between the insurer and the insured.
100% coinsurance means that, after meeting the deductible, the insurance company will cover 100% of the covered health care expenses, leaving the insured with no additional coinsurance costs.
Coinsurance and deductible are both mechanisms in insurance policies that dictate how costs are shared between you and the insurance provider. A deductible is a specific amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance benefits kick in. Coinsurance, on the other hand, is the percentage of costs you share with your insurance provider once the deductible is met.
An 80% coinsurance means the insurance company covers 80% of the healthcare costs after the deductible is met, leaving you to cover the remaining 20%. In contrast, 100% coinsurance means the insurance company covers all eligible expenses after the deductible. Therefore, from the perspective of out-of-pocket costs, 100% coinsurance is better for the insured, as they won’t have additional expenses beyond the deductible.