In most health plans, deductibles apply to which type of services?

• A. All services
• B. Only emergency services
• C. Non-covered services
• D. Covered services after meeting the deductible

Answer: (D)

A deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket for eligible medical expenses before your health plan starts to share costs. In most health plans, this amount applies to services that are covered by the plan. Non-covered services aren’t paid by the insurer, so the deductible doesn’t apply to those costs. After you’ve met the deductible, you begin to receive benefits for covered services according to the plan’s cost-sharing rules (coinsurance or fixed copays) until you reach the out-of-pocket maximum. So the best way to express how deductibles work is that they apply to covered services once you’ve paid the deductible, and then the plan pays its portion for those services. Some plans may cover certain services fully or exempt them from the deductible (like certain preventive care), but the general principle described fits the typical structure.