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Health & Medicare · 6 min read

The five costs to compare in a health plan

Premiums matter, but your total cost depends on how you use care and how the plan shares expenses.

Quick noteThis guide is general education, not individualized financial, insurance, legal or medical advice.

1. Premium

The regular amount paid to keep coverage active.

2. Deductible

What you generally pay for covered services before the plan begins sharing certain costs.

3. Copayments

Fixed amounts that may apply to visits, prescriptions or services.

4. Coinsurance

A percentage of an allowed cost you may owe after meeting the deductible.

5. Out-of-pocket maximum

The annual limit on many covered in-network costs; premiums usually do not count toward it.

Your next step

Write down the two questions that matter most to you, then compare information from official sources and qualified providers.

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