What is coinsurance Blue Cross?

Asked by: Estella Miller  |  Last update: January 16, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (64 votes)

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

What does 80% coinsurance mean?

What does 80/20 coinsurance mean? Simply put, 80/20 coinsurance means your insurance company pays 80% of the total bill, and you pay the other 20%. Remember, this applies after you've paid your deductible.

Does 20% coinsurance mean you pay 20%?

Coinsurance – Your share of the costs of a covered health care service, calculated as a percent (for example, 20%) of the allowed amount for the service. You pay the coinsurance plus any deductibles you owe. If you've paid your deductible: you pay 20% of $100, or $20.

Is it better to have coinsurance or copay?

Comments Section Having a low co-pay is better for people who go to the doctor all the time, since it's a flat amount you pay every time you see a doctor. Having low co-insurance is better for people who only go to doctors for big operations, since it's the percentage you still pay even when you pay your deductible.

What does 30% coinsurance mean for health insurance?

Coinsurance is an insured individual's share of the costs of a covered expense (it usually applies to healthcare 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. Your health plan pays the remaining 70%.

HM Revenue & Customs (applicant) v Burlington Loan Management DAC (respondent)

34 related questions found

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.

What is a good amount for coinsurance?

Until you reach your deductible, you'll pay for 100% of out-of-pocket costs. After you meet your deductible, you and your insurance company each pay a share of the costs that add up to 100 percent. Typical coinsurance ranges from 20% to 40% for the member, with your health plan paying the rest.

Do I have to pay coinsurance upfront?

No, usually you don't pay coinsurance upfront, because the health care provider has to send your insurance a finalized bill before you pay your percentage. On the other hand, copays are typically paid in office, because regardless of what the bill, you are only paying the pre-set amount of your copay.

How do you avoid coinsurance?

In order to make sure you never run into a coinsurance penalty it is vital to make sure that all of your property is insured to the actual replacement cost. Don't confuse replacement cost with market value. Make sure you review your property values with your agent on an annual basis.

What is an example of a coinsurance?

Example of coinsurance with high medical costs

Allowable costs are $12,000. 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.

What if I need surgery but can't afford my deductible?

In cases like this, we recommend contacting your insurance, surgeon, or hospital and asking if they can help you with a payment plan. Remember that your surgery provider wants to get paid so they may be very willing to work with you on a payment plan.

Why do doctors bill more than insurance will pay?

It is entirely due to the rates negotiated and contracted by your specific insurance company. The provider MUST bill for the highest contracted dollar ($) amount to receive full reimbursement.

Does coinsurance kick in after deductible?

Coinsurance is your share of the costs of a health care service. It's usually figured as a percentage of the amount we allow to be charged for services. You start paying coinsurance after you've paid your plan's deductible.

Why is coinsurance so high?

Your coinsurance percentage will vary based on whether your healthcare professional is in your plan's network. Health plans usually have different rates for in-network and out-of-network healthcare professionals. Your out-of-network coinsurance rate will be higher.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover past medical bills?

Health insurance policies are designed to cover medical expenses incurred during the period when the policy is active. This means that if you received medical services before your policy's effective date, those expenses are generally not covered.

Does coinsurance apply to total loss?

Coinsurance as it applies to Property Insurance. Because most property losses are partial and not total losses, the average insured will take advantage of this tendency and only insure enough to cover a partial loss.

Is coinsurance considered out-of-pocket?

Out-of-pocket costs include deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for covered services plus all costs for services that aren't covered.

Can coinsurance be waived?

Generally, insurance companies tend to waive coinsurance only for fairly small claims. That said, in some cases, policies may also include a waiver of coinsurance in the event of a total loss.

What happens if coinsurance is not met?

If the policy limit you have selected does not meet the specified percentage, your claim payment will be reduced in proportion to the deficiency. The coinsurance percentage typically is found on the declarations page.

What happens if I go to the ER without insurance?

Despite the financial hurdles, uninsured emergency patients are provided with legal safeguards. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law that requires anyone coming to an emergency department to be stabilized and treated, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Is it better to have a set copay or coinsurance?

Is it better to have a $700 Co-Pay for your hospital visit or a 30% Co-Insurance? Again, the Co-Pay is going to be less expensive. Co-Pays are going to be a fixed dollar amount that is almost always less expensive than the percentage amount you would pay. A plan with Co-Pays is better than a plan with Co-Insurances.

What is Blue Cross Blue Shield copay?

A copay is a fixed amount of money you pay for a certain service. Your health insurance plan pays the rest of the cost of the service. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Medicare Advantage plans use copays for most services. With copays, you know exactly what you have to pay upfront for your care.

What is the 80% rule for coinsurance?

The 80% rule means that an insurance company will pay the replacement cost of damage to a home as long as the owner has purchased coverage equal to at least 80% of the home's total replacement value.

Why would a person choose a PPO over an HMO?

PPO plans provide more flexibility when picking a doctor or hospital. They also feature a network of providers, but there are fewer restrictions on seeing non-network providers. In addition, your PPO insurance will pay if you see a non-network provider, although it may be at a lower rate.

How does coinsurance work?

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.