Health insurance premiums differ widely depending on various factors such as an insurer’s customer base size, the state-average medical care cost and competition in an insurers market.
Although you cannot control all these variables, understanding them will enable you to make an informed decision regarding your health insurance plan.
Premiums
Health insurance premiums are monthly payments to your health insurer to maintain coverage and are dependent upon which plan you select, with renewal costs typically occurring once every year.
Deductibles are amounts you must pay out-of-pocket before your health insurance will cover the rest. Deductibles vary based on what services you need and where, but they’re generally higher than co-pays or co-insurances.
Federal taxes and fees imposed on insurers also influence premiums, although usually in a positive direction. A new excise tax for employment-based plans with relatively high premiums is scheduled to go into effect beginning in 2020; it should encourage people to choose more cost-efficient plans.
Deductibles
Health insurance deductibles are fixed amounts that you must pay before the insurance company begins covering costs for you and/or your family. Deductibles can range in cost depending on individual and family circumstances.
Once your deductible has been met, coinsurance (usually 20% of approved charges) begins being deducted from your plan’s monthly premiums. Coinsurance represents a percentage of health care services rather than being an upfront fixed cost like co-pays are.
Before signing a health insurance plan, make sure you fully comprehend its deductibles and cost-sharing factors in order to select an affordable plan that meets your individual needs.
Co-pays
When it comes to determining your average health insurance costs, deductibles and co-pays should be among the main factors to take into account. Usually plans with higher deductibles tend to have lower premiums.
Deductibles are annual payments you make before your insurance plan will cover its portion of medical costs.
Copayments are fixed amounts you must cover each time you visit a doctor or fill a prescription; they may or may not count towards meeting your deductible.
Some services require copayments or coinsurances; preventive care services do not, such as annual wellness visits or certain screenings and vaccinations.
Co-insurance
Co-insurance refers to a percentage of medical costs that you and your insurance provider share equally; typically 20%. It typically applies to office visits, special procedures and prescription drugs.
Health insurance plans come equipped with various cost-sharing features, including deductibles, copays and coinsurance payments to help manage healthcare expenses; however, these features can add to the total cost of your policy as well.
Out-of-pocket maximums
Out-of-Pocket Maximums (OOPMs) are limits that specify how much health care services will cost each year. Understanding OOPMs is critical as they allow you to determine if the plan you are considering meets your needs and is best suited for you.
Based on your type of health plan, the amount you owe for deductible and out-of-pocket maximums can vary. If you are in good health, having a higher deductible with lower out-of-pocket maximum can save money.
Out-of-pocket maximums are federally defined but may differ between health plans. HHS calculates a new maximum each plan year by taking into account average costs associated with private health insurance premiums in individual/family and small group markets.