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Money · US health insurance check

US Health Insurance Plan Reality Check

Which health insurance plan is actually cheaper for your usage pattern? Compares two plans across premiums, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum.

Instant result Plain-English why Copyable takeaway
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US health insurance check

Enter the key figures for two plans and your typical annual healthcare use. Podge returns which plan is cheaper in real terms.

What this means

No waffle. Just the number and how it was worked out.

Formula used

Annual cost = (monthly premium × 12) + modelled out-of-pocket spend based on deductible and OOP max.

Worked example

Plan A: $250/month, $6,000 deductible. Plan B: $450/month, $1,500 deductible. For a moderate healthcare year (~$2,500 spend), Plan A costs $3,000 + $2,500 OOP = $5,500. Plan B costs $5,400 + $1,000 OOP = $6,400. Plan A wins despite the higher deductible.

Common questions

When does the high-deductible plan win?
When your total healthcare spend is low enough that you rarely hit the deductible, the lower premium of the HDHP saves money. If you have ongoing conditions or expected procedures, the lower deductible plan often wins despite the higher monthly cost.

What is the out-of-pocket maximum?
The most you will pay for covered services in a plan year. Once reached, the insurer pays 100%. Plans with lower OOP maxima protect you better from catastrophic costs but usually have higher premiums.

Plain-English summary

The result summary for this calculator will live here.

This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.

Disclaimer: This is a general comparison tool using simplified cost modelling. Actual costs depend on network, specific procedures, and plan terms. Not insurance or financial advice.

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