Our insurance also has a maximum coinsurance for labs, doctor's visits, etc. But it does not have a maximum amount for prescriptions. Most of the $6,000 is for prescriptions. My husband has had organ transplants and has a bad heart(Diabetes for 30+ years). Between Medicare and our insurance the immunosuppressant drugs are covered. It is the heart drugs that are so costly. That included new glasses for both of us and 4 road trips for medical services. For the coming year, I was able to budget less because we should not need new glasses for 2006. But I see this cost gradually increasing as we get older. So my retirement plan includes $6,000.
When my mother-in-law developed cancer, the cost of chemotherapy and related drugs averaged about $2,000 month.
My question was raised, in part, because several people have posted about budgeting for health insurance but I haven't seen anything about budgeting for the costs that are not covered by health insurance or Medicare. A serious illness could quickly wipe out life savings.
I don't want to end this post on a negative note, so ... we just bought a travel trailer to spend summers at the lake and my budget for travel exceeds my budget for medical costs.