What is a coinsurance clause?
A coinsurance clause is a type of health insurance policy condition that requires policyholders to pay a percentage of the cost of covered medical services. The coinsurance clause is in place to reduce the cost of the policyholder’s overall insurance coverage. In California, coinsurance is typically expressed as a percentage, such as 10-20%. This means that, after the insured pays the deductible, the policyholder is responsible for a certain percentage of the remaining cost of the service. For example, if the coinsurance is 20%, and a doctor’s visit costs $100, the insured is responsible for 20% of the cost, or $20. The insurance company is responsible for the remaining 80%. Coinsurance is different from a copayment, which requires the policyholder to pay a fixed dollar amount for services—this amount is usually lower than the actual cost of the service and is paid at the time of the visit. In order to encourage policyholders to use less expensive services, some plans offer different coinsurance rates for different types of services. For example, a plan may require a lower coinsurance rate for preventative care than for more specialized services. A coinsurance clause is an important part of health insurance law in California, and understanding it is important for policyholders to make informed decisions about their care.
Related FAQs
What is a penalty for not having health insurance?What is the individual mandate?
What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?
How does my age affect my health insurance premium?
What is a lifetime maximum?
What is the Affordable Care Act?
What is an individual health insurance plan?
What is a Medicare Advantage plan?
What is a Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)?
What is a health insurance deductible?
Related Blog Posts
What You Need to Know About Health Insurance Law - July 31, 2023Top 5 Things You Should Know About Health Insurance Law - August 7, 2023
A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Health Insurance Law - August 14, 2023
Navigating the Complexities of Health Insurance Law - August 21, 2023
The Ultimate Health Insurance Law Primer - August 28, 2023