In health insurance, what does 'coinsurance' entail?

Coinsurance is a cost-sharing arrangement that divides the financial responsibility for covered healthcare expenses between the insured and the insurer. Under this system, after the insured has met their deductible, they are required to pay a specific percentage of the remaining medical costs. For example, if the coinsurance rate is set at 20%, the insurer would cover 80% of the covered expenses while the insured is responsible for the remaining 20%. This mechanism encourages individuals to participate actively in their healthcare costs and promotes a shared financial responsibility between the insurer and the insured.

The other options describe different aspects of health insurance but do not accurately define coinsurance. A fixed-dollar amount is known as a copayment, which is a predetermined fee the insured pays for a specific service, rather than a percentage of costs. The initial amount paid before coverage kicks in refers to a deductible, which must be met before insurance benefits are activated. Lastly, the maximum amount an insurer will pay in a year is known as an out-of-pocket maximum or limit, which caps the insured's total expenses in a given policy year.