deductible

And once you join a cult, you don’t even have to worry about meeting your deductible.

Even at California companies offering insurance, the percentage of employees enrolled in plans with a deductible has roughly doubled in 20 years, rising to 77%, federal data show.

Several insurers analyzed by Weiss disputed his findings, noting that many claims are closed without payment either because the damage was less than the policies’ deductibles, or was not covered by the policy.

The idea is that requiring fees for doctor or hospital visits — through co-pays, deductibles and other forms of cost-sharing — will prompt people to think twice before seeking treatment for anything but a truly serious condition.

The deductible is what you must satisfy before the insurance company will pay out on a claim.