An insurance deductible, also known as an insurance excess, is the amount of money that a policyholder will pay towards the cost of any medical treatment. When you make a claim, the deductible is subtracted from the total amount of money that you will be reimbursed. Deductibles will change with insurance plans, with some plans offering higher amounts and other plans offering lower amounts.

There are three main types of deductibles:

Per condition:

This type of insurance deductible is applied on all treatment for a single condition or illness, and is the most common form of deductible.

An example of per condition would be: an individual has a deductible of $100. The person has an illness that forces them to go and see the doctor 3 times for a total cost of $300. The insurance company will reimburse that individual $200 for the treatment.

Annual:

A policyholder will pay an insurance excess on a yearly basis. After the deductible has been reached, all further medical expenses that year will be paid for by the insurance company.

Example: A policyholder has a deductible of $500. The total medical costs for a year were $2,000. The insurance company will reimburse the client $1,500.

Percentage (co-payment):

With a percentage-based insurance deductible, the policy holder is reimbursed a percentage of any claims made.

Example: A plan has a co-payment deductible of 15%. The policyholder is therefore responsible for 15% of the total bill. If the total cost for treatment comes to $1,000, the insurance company will reimburse the policyholder $850.

Health Insurance Plans with Deductibles or Excesses

Insurance deductibles can make a lot of difference in your plan's premium. Understanding your deductible options and selecting the best one can be confusing. Our staff can help make sure that you choose the deductible that best fits your needs, and give advice on the impact that different deductibles will have on your plan. For more information, or to receive a free quote, please contact us .