What Is a Deductible, and How Does It Affect My Costs?

Navigating provider appointments with your family care physician and specialist can be challenging enough; then you receive an insurance explanation of benefits. After deciphering what you are responsible for, do you wonder, “Could I have made a choice that would have lowered my responsibility? or, “What is a deductible, and why was it applied to the services instead of a co-pay?” With the many insurance options that are offered directly to individuals and through employers, it is important to understand the benefits your plan provides. Before pulling out your insurance policy paperwork to review your benefits, let’s talk about deductibles and how they could affect your costs.