In health insurance, what is meant by "deductible"?

In health insurance, a "deductible" refers to the amount that the insured must pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services before the insurance company begins to contribute towards the costs. This means that if a policyholder incurs medical expenses, they are responsible for covering their deductible amount first. Once this threshold is met, the insurance coverage kicks in, allowing the insured to receive benefits for additional medical expenses as outlined in their policy.

This concept is important for policyholders to understand, as it influences their overall healthcare costs. Unlike other options, which describe different aspects of health insurance plans such as maximum coverage limits or copayment requirements, the deductible specifically focuses on the responsibility of the insured to pay a certain amount upfront before insurance benefits are activated.