Some insurance policies include a Fee For Service plan. Here’s how it works. When you go to the doctor, your insurance plan pays a specific amount for that office visit. Usually, the plan works like a co-insurance plan. You, as the covered party, pay in the deductible amount first. From the time you meet that deductible, the insurance company pays a certain percentage of any doctor’s office visits.

The Fee For Service plan is sometimes called an “indemnity plan.” This is the kind of insurance most available two decades ago but it has become less widely available and less commonly selected today, mainly because of the high cost of providing this type of coverage.

Before you choose the FFS plan, pay attention to the details. Compare the cost of the premium between this and other plans. You’ll likely find the FFS among the most expensive plans. Next, what is the deductible amount? While a large deductible means a lower premium, can you really afford to pay all your health care costs until that deductible is met?

Finally, consider what types of health care you and your family usually require. Does your doctor do X-rays, blood work and other minor tests in his office? If so, a co-payment insurance plan will pay for that entire visit except the amount of the co-pay. Talk to your broker about the possibility of a FFS plan before you decide this is - or isn’t - the insurance for you.