HDHP vs. PPO: is a high-deductible (HSA) plan worth it?
A high-deductible health plan (HDHP), the kind that lets you open a Health Savings Account, is…
Read the guide →Premiums & out-of-pocket
Guides
How Health Insurance Costs Work
Health insurance has two kinds of costs: what you pay to have coverage, and what you pay when you…
Read the guide → How to Estimate Your Total Yearly Health Insurance Cost
To estimate your real yearly cost, add your fixed premiums to the care you expect to use. Start…
Read the guide → How to choose a health insurance plan (2026)
To choose a health insurance plan, compare plans by total annual cost: your monthly premiums for…
Read the guide →Data
Beware When You Turn 45: Health Insurance Premiums Take a Big Leap
As you approach age 45, expect a noticeable jump in your health insurance premiums. We examined…
See the data → Same Hospital, Same Treatment, Different Prices
The same treatment at the same hospital can carry wildly different price tags depending on who is…
See the data → Wide Swing in Insurance Premium across States
When it comes to health insurance, where you live can have a significant impact on the cost of your…
See the data →Common questions
Does my premium count toward my deductible or out-of-pocket maximum?
No. Premiums are what you pay to have the plan, and they do not count toward either the deductible or the out-of-pocket maximum. Only your spending on covered care counts.
What is the difference between a copay and coinsurance?
A copay is a fixed dollar amount, like $30 a visit, while coinsurance is a percentage of the cost, like 20% of the bill. Copays stay the same no matter how expensive the service is, and coinsurance grows with the price. Many plans use both, sometimes for different services.
What's the difference between a deductible and an out-of-pocket maximum?
The deductible is what you pay before the plan starts sharing costs. The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you will pay all year for covered, in-network care, after which the plan pays 100%. The deductible is the starting line; the out-of-pocket maximum is the finish line.