Deductible - Glossary (2024)

The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself.

After you pay your deductible, you usually pay only a

A fixed amount ($20, for example) you pay for a covered health care service after you've paid your deductible.

Refer to glossary for more details.

or

The percentage of costs of a covered health care service you pay (20%, for example) after you've paid your deductible.

Refer to glossary for more details.

for covered services. Your insurance company pays the rest.

  • Many plans pay for certain services, like a checkup or disease management programs, before you've met your deductible. Check your plan details.
  • All Marketplace health plans pay the full cost of certain preventive benefits even before you meet your deductible.
  • Some plans have separate deductibles for certain services, like prescription drugs.
  • Family plans often have both an individual deductible, which applies to each person, and a family deductible, which applies to all family members.

Generally, plans with lower monthly

The amount you pay for your health insurance every month. In addition to your premium, you usually have to pay other costs for your health care, including a deductible, copayments, and coinsurance. If you have a Marketplace health plan, you may be able to lower your costs with a premium tax credit.

Refer to glossary for more details.

have higher deductibles. Plans with higher monthly premiums usually have lower deductibles.

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Deductible - Glossary (2024)

FAQs

Deductible - Glossary? ›

The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself.

What is a simple definition of deductible? ›

Simply put, a deductible is the amount of money that the insured person must pay before their insurance policy starts paying for covered expenses.

What does 80% deductible mean? ›

You have an “80/20” plan. That means your insurance company pays for 80 percent of your costs after you've met your deductible. You pay for 20 percent. Coinsurance is different and separate from any copayment.

What is the best explanation for a deductible? ›

What is a deductible? A deductible is the dollar amount you pay to healthcare providers for covered services each year before insurance pays for services, other than preventive care. After you pay your deductible, you usually pay only a copayment (copay) or coinsurance for covered services.

What counts to a deductible? ›

Here's what it actually means: Your annual deductible is typically the amount of money that you, as a member, pay out of pocket each year for allowed amounts for covered medical care before your health plan begins to pay. This excludes certain preventive services that may be automatically covered.

How do deductibles work for dummies? ›

The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself. A fixed amount ($20, for example) you pay for a covered health care service after you've paid your deductible.

Is it better to have a $500 deductible or $1000? ›

If you're more likely to get into an accident, you won't want to pay out a higher deductible. However, if you're generally a safer driver, your car insurance premiums will be lower with a $1,000 deductible.

Is a $6000 deductible high? ›

Is a $6,000 deductible high? Yes, $6,000 is a high deductible. Any plan with a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual or $2,800 for a family is considered a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), according to the IRS.

Do copays go towards deductible? ›

Copays do not count toward your deductible. This means that once you reach your deductible, you will still have copays. Your copays end only when you have reached your out-of-pocket maximum.

What happens when you meet your deductible but not out-of-pocket? ›

Coinsurance — This is a portion of the insurance bill you're responsible for after you've met your deductible. It's typically expressed as a percentage. For example, with 20% coinsurance, you pay 20% of the total bill.

What is an example of a deductible amount? ›

Deductible is the amount you pay before your insurance policy starts to pay. For example, with Rs. 30,000 deductible, you pay the first Rs 30,000 of covered services. Insurer will only cover the claim amount if it is more than the deductible amount.

Can I negotiate deductible? ›

With regard to healthcare deductibles, always ask if it's possible to negotiate a payment plan. The healthcare provider cannot legally waive the deductible but they can allow you to pay it over time. The challenge comes in when a procedure involves multiple providers, such as with surgery.

What deductible is too high? ›

The benefits of a high-deductible versus a low-deductible medical plan. In 2023, health insurance plans with deductibles over $1,500 for an individual and $3,000 for a family are considered high-deductible plans.

How can I hit my deductible fast? ›

How to Meet Your Deductible
  1. Order a 90-day supply of your prescription medicine. Spend a bit of extra money now to meet your deductible and ensure you have enough medication to start the new year off right.
  2. See an out-of-network doctor. ...
  3. Pursue alternative treatment. ...
  4. Get your eyes examined.

What is not included in deductible? ›

Your monthly premium (and possibly other charges) are not counted toward meeting your deductible. Coinsurance is a type of cost-sharing where you pay a percentage of the total price for a covered health care service and your insurer pays the rest.

Is everything free after deductible? ›

A: Once you've met your deductible, you usually pay only a copay and/or coinsurance for covered services. Coinsurance is when your plan pays a large percentage of the cost of care and you pay the rest. For example, if your coinsurance is 80/20, you'll only pay 20 percent of the costs when you need care.

What does deductible mean in simple practice? ›

A deductible is the amount the client pays out of pocket for eligible medical services before their insurance plan starts to pay toward their medical costs. If a client hasn't met their deductible, you'll still need to submit claims to the payer so they can apply the cost of services toward the client's deductible.

What does deductible mean for kids? ›

In the United States, new insurance policies issued in 2014 or later are not allowed to have annual or lifetime coverage limits. Deductible: The amount you must pay out of your own pocket before your insurance company will start paying for services.

Which answer best defines deductible? ›

An insurance deductible is defined as the out-of-pocket amount you're required to pay toward a covered claim.

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