Your deductible is the specific dollar amount that your insurance company requires you to pay before your plan will begin paying for your visits. For example, if your insurance plan has a $2,500 deductible, you will need to pay out $2,500 in care expenses before your insurance plan will begin paying.
If you are not sure of the amount of your deductible, contact your insurance directly and they will tell you that amount, as well as what services it applies to, and how much of it has been met. The back of your insurance card will typically list a Member Services phone number that you can call for this information.
Every year, your deductible resets to zero. Until you’ve spent enough on healthcare costs to hit your required deductible amount, you’ll likely find your medical bills to be higher since you’re paying a larger portion of them.