Coinsurance - Glossary (2024)

The percentage of costs of a covered health care service you pay (20%, for example) after you've paid your deductible.

Let's say your health insurance plan's

The maximum amount a plan will pay for a covered health care service. May also be called “eligible expense,” “payment allowance,” or “negotiated rate.”

Refer to glossary for more details.

for an office visit is $100 and your coinsurance is 20%.

  • If you've paid your

    The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself.

    Refer to glossary for more details.

    : You pay 20% of $100, or $20. The insurance company pays the rest.
  • If you haven't met your deductible: You pay the full allowed amount, $100.

Example of coinsurance with high medical costs

Let's say the following amounts apply to your plan and you need a lot of treatment for a serious condition. Allowable costs are $12,000.

  • Deductible: $3,000
  • Coinsurance: 20%
  • Out-of-pocket maximum: $6,850

You'd pay all of the first $3,000 (your deductible).

You'll pay 20% of the remaining $9,000, or $1,800 (your coinsurance).

So your total out-of-pocket costs would be $4,800 — your $3,000 deductible plus your $1,800 coinsurance.

If your total out-of-pocket costs reach $6,850, you'd pay only that amount, including your deductible and coinsurance. The insurance company would pay for all covered services for the rest of your plan year.

Generally speaking, plans with low monthly

The amount you pay for your health insurance every month. In addition to your premium, you usually have to pay other costs for your health care, including a deductible, copayments, and coinsurance. If you have a Marketplace health plan, you may be able to lower your costs with a premium tax credit.

Refer to glossary for more details.

have higher coinsurance, and plans with higher monthly premiums have lower coinsurance.

Related content

  • The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself.

    Refer to glossary for more details.

  • The maximum amount a plan will pay for a covered health care service. May also be called “eligible expense,” “payment allowance,” or “negotiated rate.”

    Refer to glossary for more details.

  • The most you have to pay for covered services in a plan year. After you spend this amount on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for in-network care and services, your health plan pays 100% of the costs of covered benefits.

    Refer to glossary for more details.

  • Learn how deductibles and coinsurance affect your total costs of care
Coinsurance - Glossary (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest way to explain coinsurance? ›

Coinsurance is an insured individual's share of the costs of a covered expense (it usually applies to health-care insurance). It is expressed as a percentage. If you have a "30% coinsurance" policy, it means that, when you have a medical bill, you are responsible for 30% of it.

How do you solve coinsurance? ›

The simple formula for calculating the coinsurance penalty is: amount of insurance in place / Amount of insurance that should have been in place x the loss, less any deductible is the amount actually paid.

What does 20 coinsurance 70% coinsurance mean? ›

Coinsurance is a percentage of a medical charge you pay, with the rest paid by your health insurance plan, which typically applies after your deductible has been met. For example, if you have 20% coinsurance, you pay 20% of each medical bill, and your health insurance will cover 80%.

What is the coinsurance quizlet? ›

Coinsurance. The percentage of costs of a covered health care service you pay after you've paid your deductible.

What best describes coinsurance? ›

The percentage of costs of a covered health care service you pay (20%, for example) after you've paid your deductible. The maximum amount a plan will pay for a covered health care service. May also be called “eligible expense,” “payment allowance,” or “negotiated rate.”

How do you explain copay and coinsurance? ›

A copay is a fixed cost that an insurance policyholder pays for a specific service covered by their insurance. Coinsurance, on the other hand, is a percentage of the cost of a service. Copays and coinsurance apply in different situations, but both are expenses associated with your insurance plan.

How to calculate coinsurance calculator? ›

How Do You Calculate Coinsurance on a Property? To calculate the coinsurance penalty, divide the amount of current insurance coverage by the required insurance amount and multiply that result by the loss or cost to repair the property.

How is coinsurance limit calculated? ›

Calculating Coinsurance
  1. Determine the applicable limit of insurance.
  2. Determine the value of the lost or damaged property (e.g., your building) at the time of the loss.
  3. Apply the coinsurance percentage to the value of the property.
  4. Determine whether the limit of insurance equals or exceeds that amount.

Does 100% coinsurance mean no coinsurance? ›

Some of the most common percentages are: 20% coinsurance: You're responsible for 20% of the total bill. 100% coinsurance: You're responsible for the entire bill. 0% coinsurance: You aren't responsible for any part of the bill — your insurance company will pay the entire claim.

Is 0% coinsurance good or bad? ›

It's great to have 0% coinsurance. This means that your insurance company will pay for the entire cost of the visit or session. But often, you first have to meet your deductible in order for the coinsurance to kick in. Read on below to find out more about deductibles.

Which is better, 70/30 or 80/20 insurance? ›

So you'll find that most health plans with 70/30 coinsurance have lower premiums than an 80/20 plan. So, if you're mostly healthy and have a good emergency fund in place, it might be a good idea to look for a health plan with higher coinsurance.

What is a good coinsurance rate? ›

After you meet your annual health insurance deductible, you share medical costs with your insurer until the end of the plan year. Your percentage of those costs is called coinsurance. Your coinsurance may be high (80% to 100%) or low (0% to 20%). Typically, it is less than 50%.

How do you explain coinsurance to a patient? ›

Coinsurance is the amount you pay for covered health care after you meet your deductible. This amount is a percentage of the total cost of care—for example, 20%—and your Blue Cross plan covers the rest.

Who pays the coinsurance amount? ›

What is coinsurance? Coinsurance is a portion of the medical cost you pay after your deductible has been met. Coinsurance is a way of saying that you and your insurance carrier each pay a share of eligible costs that add up to 100 percent. The higher your coinsurance percentage, the higher your share of the cost is.

What does 25 coinsurance mean? ›

If you've already met your annual $4,000 deductible, your coinsurance goes into effect. In this example, that means that your plan now pays for 75% of your benefits while you pay the other 25%.

What is the primary purpose of coinsurance? ›

b. The fundamental purpose of the coinsurance clause is to achieve rating equality. Usually, the losses of property insurances are partial. Hence, individuals or organizations should go for the insurance amount, which is less than the property's actual amount.

Is it better to have higher or lower coinsurance? ›

People who need chronic care, expensive treatments, or pricey medications will have an easier time with low coinsurance. Having your insurer paying a larger share of your costs may help you save money over time, even if your monthly premiums are on the high side.

What is 90% coinsurance mean? ›

Coinsurance is usually expressed as a percentage. Most coinsurance clauses require policyholders to insure 80%, 90%, or 100% of a property's actual value. For instance, a building valued at $1,000,000 replacement value with a coinsurance clause of 90% must be insured for no less than $900,000.

What does 40% coinsurance after deductible mean? ›

So what does 40% coinsurance mean, for example? If you have 40% coinsurance after the deductible, you will pay the deductible first and then 40% of the costs. 50% coinsurance means the same thing; only you will pay 50% of costs. While these are higher upfront costs, you will reach your out-of-pocket limit faster.

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