What does Deductible mean?

A deductible is an amount a health-plan member may need to pay during a coverage period, often a plan year, before the plan begins paying for covered services that are subject to the deductible. A plan can have an overall deductible, separate deductibles for particular benefits, or both. Some services may be covered before the deductible is met, and family coverage may have individual and family thresholds. The plan document controls these details.

An EOB may show how much of a processed claim was assigned to the deductible and how much remains. That entry is part of the plan's calculation; compare it with prior EOBs and the plan portal if the running total seems wrong. Meeting a deductible does not mean every later service is free. Copayments, coinsurance, noncovered care, premiums, and amounts that do not count toward the out-of-pocket maximum may remain. Ask the plan whether the service was covered, which deductible applied, and whether the provider was in network.