Can You Have Health Insurance With No Deductible?

No-deductible health insurance plans can benefit those who receive expensive or frequent medical care or treatments. However, these health plans often come with higher monthly premiums so it’s important to weigh the higher cost against your actual medical needs.

Keep reading to learn how health insurance with no deductible works, its benefits and how to get coverage.

On This Page

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  What Is a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan?

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  How Does a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan Work?

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  What Does a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan Cover?

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  Who Would Benefit Most From a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan?

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  How Much Do No-Deductible Health Insurance Plans Cost?

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  How To Get No-Deductible Health Insurance?

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  FAQs

What Is a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan?

No-deductible health insurance plans function just like typical health insurance after you’ve paid your plan’s deductible, except the cost-sharing begins immediately without you having to pay a set amount first.

For example, if you enrolled in a plan with a $1,000 deductible and had an upcoming medical procedure that cost $2,000, you would need to pay the initial $1,000 before your insurer starts paying. However, if you had a no-deductible plan, your insurer would pay the regular amount of coverage starting day one of your plan.

How Does a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan Work?

No-deductible health insurance plans typically offset the zero deductible benefit by charging higher monthly premiums. However, you’ll be able to use full cost-sharing offered by your insurer from day one.

Like most health care plans, you’re still responsible for copayments or coinsurance on a no-deductible plan, so don’t expect your insurance to cover 100% of every service or doctor’s visit health care costs. These health plans also typically have an out-of-pocket maximum, which can differ between carrier plans. You’ll likely still be responsible for out-of-network health care expenses and other policy exclusions for types of services.

What Does a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan Cover?

A no-deductible marketplace plan typically covers everything a standard plan would cover, which include certain essential health benefits mandated by the ACA:^[1]

What Isn’t Covered?

No-deductible health insurance plans typically exclude standard services not covered by most plans, including cosmetic procedures and off-label prescriptions. In general, your health insurance is unlikely to offer any elective procedures. However, some procedures, like weight loss surgery, may be approved by some insurers if it is considered medically necessary, but you’ll need to check with any policy restrictions and may need to get the treatment approved by your doctor or a specialist.

Vision and dental services, such as getting an eye exam or having your teeth cleaned, are excluded from coverage and you will usually need to buy separate policies. Medical devices or procedures that are still new may not be covered, particularly if the benefits it offers doesn’t have significant evidence they’re worth the cost to your insurer.

Who Would Benefit Most From a No-Deductible Health Insurance Plan?

Those looking at higher-than-average medical costs for the year, such as those needing care for a chronic condition or those with planned medical treatments, may benefit from a no-deductible health insurance plan.

As you won’t need to worry about your deductible, cost sharing with your insurer can begin immediately, potentially reducing overall costs.

For example, if a no-deductible health plan costs $1,000 more in annual insurance premiums but the deductible for an equivalent plan was over that amount, you’d likely benefit from the non-deductible option if you felt confident your medical costs would exceed $1,000.

In addition, since your premiums and copayments will remain the same month to month, removing potentially fluctuating expenses otherwise associated with meeting a deductible can help keep your budget more consistent and prevent costly surprises if you need unexpected treatment.

How Much Do No-Deductible Health Insurance Plans Cost?

In general, the lower your deductible is, the higher your monthly premium will be. Platinum plans, which have some of the lowest health insurance deductibles, can cost $737 on average for a 40-year-old individual. If you’re opting for a zero-deductible plan, your premium may even be higher — of course, actual rates will vary based on your age, smoking status and other factors.^[2]

It’s worth noting that while zero-deductible options are usually thought to be only gold or platinum plans, you can actually find them in any metal tier. Instead of the deductible, you will find that other out-of-pocket costs like copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximums will affect the monthly premium. For example, you will likely see higher copays and lower monthly premiums in a zero-deductible bronze plan and vice versa in a platinum plan.

As mentioned earlier, if you seek medical help frequently or have expensive treatments, the benefits of a no-deductible plan may reduce your overall costs. For example, the bronze tier ACA health plans have an average deductible of $7,258 and an average lowest-cost premium of $364 in 2024.^[3][4] While no-deductible health plans typically have a higher premium, you might save money by not paying out-of-pocket towards your deductible before your insurer begins cost-sharing.

How To Get No-Deductible Health Insurance?

Not every health insurance company offers no-deductible health plans, and an option may not be offered through employer-based insurance, so you may need to shop around. Since no-deductible plans can appear at different plan tiers, they may not all offer the same benefits between carriers, so check with at least three to five different insurance companies to get a sense of your options.

By shopping with a health care marketplace like SmartFinancial, you can reduce the time it takes to get quotes by connecting with one of our agents to help you sort your available health care options after answering a brief questionnaire. Compare health insurance quotes for free today.

Typically, for Marketplace plans in most states, you can only sign up for a new health plan during the open enrollment period, lasting from November 1 to January 15. If you enroll through work, you may be able to enroll at a different time. Alternatively, you may be able to sign up for a plan during a special enrollment period if you’ve gone through a qualifying life event.^[5]