A health insurance deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket for covered medical services before your insurance plan starts to pay its share.
For example: With a $2,000 deductible, you cover the first $2,000 of eligible costs yourself (except for services like preventive care that are often covered before the deductible is met). After that, your plan typically pays most or all of covered costs (you may still owe copays or coinsurance). Deductibles usually reset annually.