Insurance term
Deductible
Definition
A deductible is the amount a patient must pay out of pocket each benefit year before the plan starts paying for covered services.
Why it matters for the front desk
Many dental plans waive the deductible for preventive and diagnostic care and apply it to basic and major services. That means a patient's first filling of the year can cost more than the next one. Plans may also have separate individual and family deductibles. Knowing how much of the deductible is left at the time of the visit is essential for an accurate estimate.
Related reading
Blog
What Actually Happens During Dental Insurance Eligibility Verification
Related terms
- Coinsurance Coinsurance is the percentage of a covered procedure's cost that the patient pays after the deductible, with the plan paying the rest.
- Annual Maximum The annual maximum is the most a dental plan will pay toward a patient's care in one benefit year.
- Eligibility Verification Eligibility verification is the process of confirming, before an appointment, that a patient's dental coverage is active and what it will pay for.