In health insurance, what is the difference between a copayment, coinsurance, and a deductible?

HEALTH INSURANCE COST-SHARING TERMS: DEDUCTIBLE: The amount you pay OUT OF POCKET before insurance begins to pay (e.g., $2,000 deductible — you pay the first $2,000 of covered care); COPAYMENT (copay): A FIXED DOLLAR amount you pay for a specific service (e.g., $25 per doctor visit, $15 per prescription) — often applies regardless of the deductible; COINSURANCE: A PERCENTAGE of the cost you pay AFTER meeting the deductible (e.g., 20% coinsurance — insurance pays 80%, you pay 20%); OUT-OF-POCKET MAXIMUM: The most you'll pay in a year (deductible + copays + coinsurance); after reaching it, insurance pays 100% of covered care; PREMIUM: The monthly amount to have the coverage (separate from these); EXAMPLE FLOW: Pay premium monthly → pay deductible first → then pay coinsurance (%) and/or copays → until reaching the out-of-pocket max → then insurance covers 100%; understanding these cost-sharing terms (deductible, copay, coinsurance, out-of-pocket max) is essential health insurance exam content — they determine what the insured pays.