What does the term 'deductible' refer to in insurance?

The term 'deductible' in insurance refers specifically to the amount subtracted from the value of a loss that an insured party must pay out of pocket before their insurance coverage kicks in for any remaining expenses. For instance, if an individual has a deductible of $500 and they incur a loss of $2,000 due to an insured event, the insurance company would only reimburse them for $1,500 after the deductible is applied.

This system is designed to make the insured party partially responsible for the loss, encouraging them to avoid small claims and potentially fostering more responsible behavior in risk management. It also helps insurance providers mitigate risk by reducing the number of claims they handle for minor incidents.