Health insurance
What you'll really pay for care, and how to pick a plan.
Most a 2027 plan can charge you $12,000 one person, in network
Drag the bill. See what you pay, and where it stops.
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4 things to know
Costly mistakes
Picking the lowest premium+$1,660
InsteadIn a major year, the cheaper plan in our comparison costs that much more. Compare whole-year totals.
Forgetting premiums sit on top$1,500/yr
InsteadYour worst case is the out-of-pocket max plus twelve months of premiums. Save for both.
Going out of networkmay not count
InsteadOut-of-network care can cost more and skip your maximum. Check every doctor, lab and facility first.
Skipping the drug listsurprise tier
InsteadLook up every regular prescription in each plan's formulary before you enroll.
Leaving an HSA empty$1,334/yr
InsteadThat is the tax a full HSA saves at 22%, contributing through payroll. Take any employer deposit too.
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Copy both plans from your enrollment page. Each runs through three kinds of year.
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A copay of 0 means visits count toward the deductible instead.
Every number, worked out
One plan, two bad years. The maximum on line 3 is what protects you from the second one.
| The plan | |||
| 1 | DeductibleAverage single deductible for workers with one, 2025 (KFF) | 1,886.00 | |
| 2 | Coinsurance after the deductibleExample plan | 20% | |
| 3 | Out-of-pocket maximumExample plan; the 2026 legal ceiling is $10,600 | 5,000.00 | |
| A $12,000 MRI and outpatient surgery | |||
| 4 | Allowed chargesWhat the plan has agreed to pay the providers | 12,000.00 | |
| 5 | You pay the deductible first | Smaller of line 1 and line 4 | 1,886.00 |
| 6 | Charges left after the deductible | Line 4 − line 5 | 10,114.00 |
| 7 | Your coinsurance share | Line 6 × line 2 | 2,022.80 |
| 8 | You pay in all | Line 5 + line 7, but no more than line 3 | 3,908.80 |
| 9 | The plan pays | Line 4 − line 8 | 8,091.20 |
| A $45,000 hospital stay instead | |||
| 10 | Deductible plus 20% of the rest | $1,886 + 20% × $43,114 | 10,508.80 |
| 11 | Capped at the maximum | Smaller of line 10 and line 3 | 5,000.00 |
| Do not forget | |||
| 12 | Your share of premiums for the yearExample: $125 a month taken from your paycheck | $125 × 12 | 1,500.00 |
| 13 | Worst-case year | Line 3 + line 12 | 6,500.00 |
Sources (4)
- KFF: 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey: average premiums $9,325 single, $26,993 family; average single deductible $1,886 (Oct 2025)
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: 2027 maximum annual limitation on cost sharing ($12,000 / $24,000; 2026: $10,600 / $21,200) (Jan 29, 2026)
- Internal Revenue Service: Revenue Procedure 2025-19: 2026 HSA and HDHP limits (May 1, 2025)
- Internal Revenue Service: Revenue Procedure 2026-24: 2027 HSA and HDHP limits (May 29, 2026)