Understanding Health Insurance Costs

Your Real Yearly Cost, Not Just the Premium

The formula that compares any two plans

Real annual cost = premiums for the year + what you will actually spend on care under that plan's deductible, copays, and coinsurance. A $250 premium plan can beat a $400 one, or lose to it, entirely depending on how much care you use.

Model three versions of your year

• Light year: checkups and a prescription or two. Low-premium plans usually win.
• Average year: a few visits, urgent care, ongoing medication. The middle tiers often win.
• Heavy year: surgery, pregnancy, or a new diagnosis. The out-of-pocket maximum matters more than any other number.

We run these numbers with you

Bring your actual usage from last year and we will map it across the plans available to you in real dollars. Ten minutes of math prevents a year of regret.