Insurance 101
Short videos in plain language, grouped into four courses. As each video plays, the key words pop up with a simple definition. Free for everyone.
The four costs on every plan — premium, deductible, copay, coinsurance — and how they work together across a year.
3:14Your premium is the monthly cost of keeping your plan active — whether or not you see a doctor. This lesson explains what the premium does and doesn't buy, and why the lowest premium isn't always the cheapest plan once deductibles and copays are counted.
3:48A deductible is what you pay for covered care before your plan starts to share the cost. This lesson shows how it resets each year and how it works alongside your premium, copays, and out-of-pocket maximum.
2:56A copay is a fixed dollar amount you pay for a specific service — a $30 office visit, a $15 generic prescription. This lesson explains how copays differ from coinsurance and when they apply before or after the deductible.
3:21Coinsurance is the share of a bill you pay after meeting your deductible — usually a percentage, like 20%. This lesson shows how coinsurance is calculated on the plan's allowed amount and how it counts toward your out-of-pocket maximum.
In-network vs out-of-network, how HMO, PPO, EPO, and HDHP plans decide what you'll pay, and how HSAs and FSAs help you save.
3:37Staying in-network is one of the biggest levers on what you actually pay. This lesson explains negotiated rates, why out-of-network care costs more (or isn't covered at all), and what balance billing means for you.
3:56An HMO keeps premiums lower by coordinating your care through a primary care doctor and a defined network. This lesson explains referrals, what's covered out-of-network (usually only emergencies), and who an HMO fits best.
4:00An HDHP pairs a lower monthly premium with a higher deductible — and it's the only plan type that lets you open an HSA. This lesson explains the trade-off, who an HDHP fits, and how pairing it with an HSA softens the upfront cost.
3:45A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) lets you see any provider without a referral — you just pay less when you stay in-network. This lesson explains how PPOs trade higher premiums for the freedom to self-refer and use out-of-network care.
3:30An EPO (Exclusive Provider Organization) sits between an HMO and a PPO: you usually don't need referrals to see specialists, but the plan only covers in-network care except in emergencies. This lesson shows who an EPO fits and where its hard network limit bites.
4:10Both an FSA and an HSA let you set aside pre-tax money for medical costs — lowering your taxable income. This lesson introduces how each works, what they cover, and the key rules that separate them.
4:20HMOs cost less but route your care through a primary doctor and a strict network; PPOs cost more but let you self-refer and go out-of-network. This lesson puts them side by side so you can match the trade-off to how you actually use care.
4:15The critical differences: an HSA needs an HDHP, rolls over every year, and is yours to keep; an FSA works with most plans but is usually use-it-or-lose-it. This lesson compares them point by point so you can choose with confidence.
What arrives after a visit — your Explanation of Benefits, the bill that follows, and how to spot billing errors and scams.
3:40After the EOB comes the provider's actual bill. This lesson shows how to match the bill to your EOB, confirm the amount is right, and catch the mismatches that mean you're being overcharged.
4:00From phantom charges to fake plan offers, medical billing is a common target for fraud. This lesson shows the red flags to watch for on bills and EOBs, and how to protect yourself and report suspected scams.
3:50An EOB is the statement your insurer sends after a visit — what was billed, what they paid, and what you may owe. Crucially, it is not a bill. This lesson walks through each line so you can read an EOB with confidence.
When you can enroll, and how to pick a plan that fits your budget and how you use care.
4:30Putting it all together: how to weigh premiums against deductibles, check that your doctors and drugs are covered, and match a plan to how much care you expect to use. This lesson gives you a practical framework for open enrollment.
3:30Open Enrollment is the yearly window when you can start or change a health plan. This lesson explains when it runs, what you can do during it, and how a qualifying life event can open a Special Enrollment Period outside that window.
Stuck on a term? Every hard word lives in the glossary, with real examples.
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