 TITLE: What to Know Before You Buy Health Insurance CONTENT: Compare Out-Of-Pocket Costs\n---------------------------\nFor most of us, cost is a key concern when purchasing health insurance. To get the most for your money, be sure to consider the following out-of-pocket costs when comparing different plans.\n*   **Co-insurance**: When a health insurance plan has co-insurance, the insurance company pays a certain percentage of your medical costs, and you pay the rest. Co-insurance is the amount you're responsible for, so in a plan with 10% coinsurance, you pay 10% of your health care costs and the insurance company pays 90%.\n*   **Copayments**: Copays are flat fees you pay when you receive health care services; with your insurance company handling the remainder of the bill. For example, if a doctor visit costs $120 and your copay for a doctor visit is $20, you pay $20 and the insurance company covers the other $100. Health insurance plans generally have different copays for different types of care, such as office visits, emergency room visits or visits to specialists.\n*   **Deductibles**: Some plans require you to pay out of pocket until you hit a set amount called the _annual deductible_ before insurance coverage for your health care expenses kicks in. In most cases, there is one deductible for prescriptions and a separate deductible for health care. Often, certain health care services, such as preventive or maternity care, are not subject to the deductible.\n*   **Out-of-pocket maximum**: Insurance plans set limits on the amount individuals and families must pay out of pocket each year for copays, coinsurance and deductibles. Once you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, the insurance company covers all of your medical costs for the rest of the plan year.\nJust as with car insurance or homeowners insurance, health insurance premiums are the monthly fee you pay for coverage. If you get health insurance through your employer, the employer typically covers the lion's share of the premiums. If you get your insurance from the Marketplace, you may be eligible for premium tax credits that drastically reduce your premium costs—in some cases, to nothing. END