The premium tells you what a plan costs in a good year. Cost-sharing and limits tell you what it costs in a bad one.
Deductible
The amount you pay before the plan begins paying for eligible care. On international plans it may apply per year, per condition, or per claim, depending on the plan. A higher deductible generally lowers premium. Choose one you could comfortably absorb in a bad year.
Co-insurance and copays
After the deductible, you may share costs: a percentage of each eligible bill (co-insurance) or a fixed amount per service (copay). Some plans apply cost-sharing only to outpatient care; others apply it broadly.
Out-of-pocket maximum
Some plans cap what you pay in cost-sharing during a year. Once you reach it, the plan pays eligible costs in full for the rest of the period. Not all plans have one — check.
Benefit limits
- Overall annual or lifetime maximums on what the plan will pay
- Per-benefit limits on specific services such as outpatient visits, mental health, or physiotherapy
- Sub-limits on evacuation, repatriation, or specific treatments
A plan with a generous headline maximum can still have tight sub-limits on exactly the care you would use.
What to compare between quotes
- Deductible and how it applies
- Co-insurance and copays, and where they apply
- Out-of-pocket maximum, if any
- Overall and per-benefit limits
- Area of coverage
- Exclusions and waiting periods
Model the worst plausible year under each quote. That comparison is usually more revealing than the premium difference.
Living abroad, or about to? Tell us where, for how long, and who is covered. International health overview