The Average Deductible for Health Insurance

There are many factors to consider when you shop for a new health insurance plan, from pharmacy benefits to doctor choice to coverage limits. Outside the monthly premiums, nothing has a bigger immediate impact on beneficiaries' pocketbooks than deductible levels. While comparing your deductible level to the national average may be a convenient tool to measure your coverage against standards, it's more important to choose a plan that fits your needs and budget.

National Average Healthcare Deductible

• The average deductible for health insurance was $1,200 as of November 2010, according to a study by Mercer cited by the Wall Street Journal. That average, generated by polling more than 2,000 employers who provide health care, rose by more than $400 from 2005 levels. The increase in the average deductible may be partially attributed to the increase in people who carry high-deductible plans. In 2010, an estimated 10 million beneficiaries opted for high-deductible plans, according to a survey by America's Health Insurance Plans as reported by USA Today.

Deductibles By Plan Types

• Average deductibles also vary between types of health insurance plans. The average deductible for patients insured in HMOs and network-based plans in 2007 was $401, according to Inc. magazine. Patients insured by preferred provider organizations typically paid average deductibles of $667, while patients using point-of-service plans paid an average deductible of $751. High-deductible plans, or catastrophic illness plans, with low premiums and high out-of-pocket costs, included an average deductible of $1,865. Deductibles and premiums aren't the only considerations to make, however, with plans offering varying levels of flexibility, options and coverage levels.

Choosing Your Deductible

• If you have the choice of health care plans with different deductible levels, it's important to consider you medical needs when you weigh your options. Patients should consider out-of-pocket expenses for routine visits and other non-catastrophic treatment, and choose a plan that allows them to afford routine check-ups and preventative care. Catastrophic events, such as heart attacks, may create six-figure medical bills, so it's important to find a plan that doesn't set, or sets reasonable maximum coverage levels, according to Consumer Reports. A general rule of thumb dictates that the lower your monthly premium, the more likely you are to face out-of-pocket costs you can't afford in the future.

Hidden Costs

• Patients who opt for high-deductible plans are often less likely to visit a doctor to diagnose and treat small problems, according to the New York Times. Because the high out-of-pocket costs can be a deterrent to those who may seek care if they carried a plan with a more affordable deductible or co-payment, many delay treatment until health issues become larger, more threatening and more expensive to treat.