The 5 Costs That Make Up Your Health Plan

Blues Perspectives

| 2 min read

Little girl smiling at her doctor
Ever want to know how much a health care service is going to cost you before you schedule the appointment? If you're like most of us, your money is important to you, and you want to know what you pay when it comes to health care. The easiest way to understand what costs you're responsible for is to understand what the financial terms actually mean.
  • Premium: A premium is the monthly amount you or your employer pays to your health care company to keep your coverage. Think of it like a gym membership - it's what you pay to be a Blue Cross member. Premiums vary based on what expenses are covered in a plan and which doctors are seen.
  • Copayment (or Copay): Your copay is a fixed amount you pay for a covered health care service, usually when you get the service. Copays vary depending on where you received care. A throat culture at an urgent care center will have a higher copay than a throat culture at your primary doctor.
  • Deductible: A deductible is the amount you owe for covered health care services before your health care plan begins to pay. You will generally pay the full price of health care costs until your deductible is reached. Preventive services (like your annual wellness visit) are covered by your insurer and don’t count toward the deductible.
  • Coinsurance: Coinsurance is your share of the costs of a covered health care service, usually a percentage (for example, 20%) of the allowed amount for the service. A 20/80 coinsurance means the consumer pays 20% of the costs and the insurance company picks up the remaining 80%.
  • Out-of-Pocket Maximum: Your out-of-pocket maximum is the most you'll pay in deductible, copayment and coinsurance during the year. Once the out-of-pocket maximum is hit, your health insurer will typically cover 100 percent of what is owed for covered services.
TIP: Some benefits, like preventive services, are paid 100% by Blue Cross with no copay. Take advantage of your preventive services to stay healthy and minimize your out-of-pocket health care costs. Learn more about preventive services at bcbsm.com. Like this blog? Here are some other articles to help you understand your health insurance:

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

2 Comments

B
Blues Perspectives

Aug 12, 2020 at 6:28pm

Hi Mary! Copays were not included in the example because they vary based on individual plans. Your plan determines what your copay is for different types of services, and when you have one. You may have a copay before you’ve finished paying toward your deductible. You may also have a copay after you pay your deductible, and when you owe coinsurance. Your Blue Cross ID card may list copays for some visits. You can also log in to your account, or register for one, at bcbsm.com or by using the mobile app to see your plan’s copays. Thank you, Candice

M
Mary Kravutske

Jul 31, 2020 at 1:56pm

Can you modify the example to include co-pay costs? It is unclear how the co-pay fits into the equation.

MI Blues Perspectives is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association