Healthcare Plan Cost Comparison Calculator

Enter plan details and your expected care usage. See costs split by premiums and out-of-pocket. Download a clear report and compare plans confidently now.

Meta description (25 words): Compare plans with premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Estimate annual costs using visits, prescriptions, and expenses. Choose the best option that fits your budget today.

Your expected usage

These assumptions drive copays and coinsurance estimates.
Use your best estimate for services like labs, imaging, procedures, or hospital care (before insurance).

Plan A

Compare
Includes deductible, coinsurance, and copays (assumed).


Examples: employer HSA/HRA funding, wellness credits, subsidies.

Plan B

Compare
Includes deductible, coinsurance, and copays (assumed).


Examples: employer HSA/HRA funding, wellness credits, subsidies.

Plan C

Compare
Includes deductible, coinsurance, and copays (assumed).


Examples: employer HSA/HRA funding, wellness credits, subsidies.
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Example data table

Use this sample to test how the calculator behaves.
Item Plan A Plan B Plan C
Monthly premium$220$170$120
Deductible$1,000$2,500$4,000
Coinsurance20%30%40%
Out-of-pocket max$4,500$6,000$8,000
Primary / Specialist copay$30 / $60$25 / $50$20 / $40
Generic Rx copay$10$15$20
Usage (year)Primary 4, Specialist 2, Urgent 1, ER 0, Generic Rx 12
Allowed expenses (year)$2,500
Note: Real plan rules vary (deductible applicability, embedded deductibles, RX tiers, facility fees). Treat outputs as a planning estimate.

Formula used

1) Annual premiums
Annual Premium = Monthly Premium × 12
2) Copays
Copays are estimated from your utilization inputs (visits and prescriptions).
Copays = (Primary Visits × Primary Copay) + (Specialist Visits × Specialist Copay) + … + (RX Counts × RX Copays)
3) Deductible + coinsurance on allowed expenses
Allowed expenses are treated as deductible-then-coinsurance services spending.
Deductible Paid = min(Deductible, Allowed Expenses)
Remaining = max(0, Allowed Expenses − Deductible Paid)
Coinsurance Paid = Remaining × (Coinsurance % ÷ 100)
4) Out-of-pocket cap
Out-of-pocket is capped at the plan's maximum (premiums are not capped).
OOP Before Cap = Deductible Paid + Coinsurance Paid + Copays
Estimated OOP = min(OOP Max, OOP Before Cap)
5) Total annual cost
Total Annual Cost = Annual Premium + Estimated OOP − Annual Credits

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter your expected yearly visits, prescriptions, and allowed expenses.
  2. Fill each plan’s premium, deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.
  3. Add copays and any annual credits or incentives if applicable.
  4. Click “Compare Plans” to see costs above the form.
  5. Use CSV or PDF downloads to save the comparison.

Why total annual cost matters

A plan’s true price is not just the premium. This calculator estimates annual premiums, then adds expected out‑of‑pocket spending and subtracts any credits. For example, $180 per month equals $2,160 per year, before deductibles or copays. If a plan offers $500 in annual credits, your total falls by $500. That framing keeps comparisons consistent.

Deductible threshold and coinsurance slope

Allowed expenses represent services that usually trigger deductible and coinsurance. If your deductible is $2,000 and allowed expenses are $2,500, then $2,000 is paid first and the remaining $500 is shared by coinsurance. At 30% coinsurance, that portion is $150. Raising allowed expenses to $10,000 would add $2,400 in coinsurance after the deductible, showing the slope clearly.

Copays can dominate routine care

Visits and prescriptions often behave like fixed prices, especially before you meet a deductible. Four primary visits at $30 each add $120. Two specialist visits at $60 add $120 more. Twelve generic prescriptions at $10 add another $120. One urgent visit at $75 and one ER copay of $300 can change rankings fast. Copay designs vary, so enter your plan’s schedule.

Out‑of‑pocket maximum protects worst cases

High-cost years can erase premium savings quickly. If allowed expenses rise to $20,000, deductible plus coinsurance plus copays may exceed the out‑of‑pocket cap. The calculator applies the cap, which can turn a “cheap premium” plan into the costliest option if its maximum is much higher. A $6,000 cap versus an $8,000 cap is a $2,000 risk difference, before premiums.

Comparing three plans with one scenario

Use identical utilization inputs across Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C. Then review each component: premiums, deductible paid, coinsurance paid, and total capped out‑of‑pocket. In many mid‑spend scenarios, a moderate premium with a lower cap wins. In low‑spend years, a lower premium often leads. Try two runs—low expenses and high expenses—to see where each plan breaks even for your household.

These figures are planning estimates based on your inputs.

FAQs

Does the deductible apply to copays?

It depends on plan design. Many office-visit copays apply before the deductible, while labs and imaging may be subject to it. Confirm your benefits, then enter matching copays and allowed expenses.

What should I enter for allowed expenses?

Use expected negotiated charges for services beyond simple copays: diagnostics, procedures, therapy, outpatient, or hospital care. If unsure, run three scenarios—low, medium, and high—to understand sensitivity.

How are prescription costs handled?

Prescriptions are modeled as tiered copays using yearly counts for generic, preferred brand, and non-preferred brand. If your plan uses drug coinsurance, approximate that spend inside allowed expenses and reduce copay counts.

Why can a higher premium plan be cheaper?

Higher premiums sometimes buy a lower deductible, lower coinsurance, and a lower out-of-pocket maximum. When expected spending rises, those protections can save more than the premium difference, reducing total annual cost.

Do credits include employer HSA contributions?

Yes. Enter fixed annual amounts that reduce your net cost, such as employer HSA/HRA funding, wellness incentives, or subsidies. Avoid counting the same benefit twice if it already reduces your premium.

Is this a final quote?

No. Results are estimates and do not capture network restrictions, prior authorizations, embedded deductibles, or separate drug deductibles. Use the output to shortlist plans, then verify details with plan documents.

Tip: Re-run the calculator when your usage assumptions change.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.