In Medicare, what does "deductible" refer to?

In the context of Medicare, the term "deductible" specifically refers to the fixed amount that a beneficiary is required to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services before Medicare begins to cover its share of the costs. This predetermined sum must be met before the insurance kicks in, meaning that once the beneficiary has paid the deductible, Medicare will then start to pay for qualifying medical expenses.

Understanding the deductible is crucial for beneficiaries, as it determines their initial financial responsibility for healthcare services within a given timeframe, usually a calendar year. Since Medicare has deductibles for different parts (like Part A and Part B), beneficiaries should be aware of these amounts to better plan for healthcare expenses.

The other options don't accurately capture the definition of a deductible in the Medicare context: the count of visits has no bearing on the concept of deductibles, total out-of-pocket costs encompass more than just the deductible, and the percentage of costs covered pertains to coinsurance rather than the deductible itself.