Insurance and billing
Deductible
The amount a patient pays out of pocket for covered services before the plan starts to pay its share.
A deductible is the set amount a patient must pay each plan year before the insurance begins sharing the cost of covered care. Many dental plans do not apply the deductible to preventive care, such as cleanings and exams, but do apply it to fillings, crowns and similar work. Checking how much of the deductible has been met is part of verifying benefits and building an accurate estimate.
Example at the front desk
He has not met his deductible yet, so his filling today will start toward it.