What does "coinsurance" refer to in an insurance policy?

Coinsurance in an insurance policy is an important concept that refers to the arrangement where a policyholder pays a certain percentage of costs after they have met their deductible. This means that once the insured has paid their deductible amount, they share in the costs of covered expenses with the insurance company. For example, if a policy states that the coinsurance is 20%, the insurer would cover 80% of the covered expenses, while the policyholder would be responsible for the remaining 20%.

This mechanism is often utilized in health insurance and property insurance to encourage policyholders to manage their healthcare costs or property risks responsibly. It helps prevent over-utilization of services because the insured has to share in the cost of their claims. Other options do not accurately define coinsurance; they pertain to different aspects of insurance terms, such as coverage limits or deductibles, rather than the specific cost-sharing arrangement coinsurance represents.