Which term refers to the portion of a medical bill that a person pays before the insurer begins to pay?

• A. Premium
• B. Copayment
• C. Deductible
• D. Coinsurance

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering costs. That is the deductible. It acts as a threshold you must reach each policy year before the insurer begins to pay on most services, after which you may still owe coinsurance or a copayment depending on your plan terms.

To contrast briefly: a premium is the regular payment you make to keep the coverage active, not tied to a specific bill. a copayment is a fixed amount you pay for a service at the time you receive it, which may occur before or after meeting the deductible depending on the plan. coinsurance is the percentage of costs you pay after the deductible has been met.