In major medical plans, what does the integrated deductible refer to?

The integrated deductible refers to the total amount that the insured must pay before both the basic and major medical insurance plans start to contribute toward covering additional medical expenses. This means that the deductible encompasses amounts that need to be met across different layers of coverage, allowing for coordination between what the basic plan pays and what the major medical plan covers.

In this context, the integrated deductible includes the portion that is covered by the basic plan. This means if medical expenses arise, the insured will first apply out-of-pocket costs towards the basic plan's deductible. Once that deductible is met, the major medical coverage may kick in, and any remaining eligible expenses could then be accounted for against the major medical deductible or simply treated as met under the integration provision.

This setup enhances efficiency and reduces the burden on the insured, as they do not need to meet separate deductibles for different plans but rather have a unified deductible that streamlines their overall out-of-pocket expenses. Therefore, understanding the integrated nature of this deductible is essential for grasping how costs are managed in major medical plans.