A high-deductible plan is a type of health insurance where you have to pay more money yourself before the insurance company starts helping. Many patients will choose a health insurance plan with a lower premium (monthly cost). While these “cheaper” plans are less costly month to month, basic care will cost significantly more than a copay.

Imagine you have to pay for your own doctor visits and medicine until you reach a certain amount, let's say $1,000. That's called the deductible. Once you've spent that much, the insurance company will start paying to help with the rest of your medical bills. It’s called "high-deductible" because that $1,000 (or whatever the amount is) is higher than what you would pay with other types of insurance plans. So, you have to spend more of your own money first, but these plans often have lower monthly costs.