Is it true that you only need to pay a co-pay until you've met the deductible?

Question

I'm not really sure how this works. After you've met the deductible in a health insurance policy, do you continue to make co-payments, or does it switch to co-insurances? Or does it depend on the plan?

Answer 1

No, you continue to pay the co-pay and co-insurance until the maximum "out of pocket" is met.

Answer 2

Robert,

You always pay the copay. The copay never goes away and the amount that you pay does not reduce your deductible. If you have a $20 copay for doctors visits or a $10 copay for prescriptions you always pay that amount.

Your policy likely has deductibles for hospital admissions where you are first required to pay the deductible you have chosen. After you have paid your deductible the company pays 70% to 80% of the next $5,000 and you pay the remaining 30 to 20% until you have satisfied the maximum out of pocket (usually $1,000 or $1,500). After you have paid the deductible and your percentage of the remainder the company pays 100%

Policies deductibles can be structured any number of ways but a copay for a doctors visit or a prescription drug should not be confused with a deductible.

Answer 3

I think you have it backwards.  Until you pay your deductible, you pay all the medical bills.

It is after you have met the deductible that you start making co-payments.