Understanding Out-of-Pocket Costs.

Out-of-pocket costs are the expenses you pay directly for your healthcare. These include:

• Deductibles – the amount you pay before your insurance begins to cover costs.
• Co-insurance – your share of the cost for covered services (usually a percentage).
• Co-payments – fixed amounts you pay for specific services, such as doctor visits or prescriptions.
• Non-covered services – any costs for care or services not included in your plan.
  
  

Your Total Out-of-Pocket amount represents the total you’ve paid to providers, including what has been applied toward your deductible and other cost-sharing limits.

Example:
If your deductible is $1,500 and you’ve already paid $1,000 for covered services, that $1,000 counts toward your total out-of-pocket amount. Once you meet your deductible, in this case $1.500, your insurance will begin covering a larger portion of your healthcare costs.