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Get DirectionsThe Insurance Mart brings its customers the second article in our "Understanding Confusing Health Insurance Terms" series today. The term deductible appears in more than one type of insurance, but it means the same thing regardless of the type of insurance policy. Some health insurance policies include a deductible, a capped amount of money that the policyholder must pay towards the medical service before their health insurance pays out.
Understanding Deductibles
An insurance deductible varies by policy. Some health insurance policies do not include a deductible, and some do. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) researches annual deductibles paid, and in 2022, the last year for which it had complete data, the average deductible for an individual, employer-provided insurance plan was $1,763. Health insurance deductibles at small companies were $2,543 in 2022, while those at large companies were $1,493.
An Example of a Deductible Payment
For instance, if you visited your doctor in Blue Ridge, GA, and the physician diagnosed a condition requiring surgery, you would pay the first $1,763 of the medical bill. Once you pay the deductible, your health insurance will take care of the remainder of the bill. Normally, the hospital or other medical center bills a patient for all services at one time. The medical center accepts the payment and distributes the patient’s payment, and that of the insurance company, to each individual or department. You could pay your deductible using a credit card, debit card, or cash.
Changing Your Deductible
Every health insurance policy that uses a deductible includes the amount in the policy documents. If you notice that your insurance policy deductible seems a little steep, contact The Insurance Mart to update your policy. We can help you switch to a policy with a lower deductible so your next trip to your Blue Ridge, GA, physician won’t cost you as much out of pocket.
