Does the deductible apply to each doctor's visit separately or are the costs cumulative over the year?

Question

In a few months I'm switching to a health insurance plan with a $1,600 deductible. After the deductible is met, the plan pays everything, i.e. 0% coinsurance.

As of now, I see a physical therapist each week at a cost of $250. Under the new plan, will I have met my deductible after seven visits (because 7 * 250 > 1600)? Or is the charge for each doctor/therapist visit counted separately, and so the deductible is never met because the cost each week is less than 1600.

All of the examples of deductible math I can find online refer to a single bill, e.g. "Michael has a deductible of 1600 and is billed 5000 for medical care, so he pays 1600 and then the coinsurance rate kicks in for the rest." What I can't figure out is how the deductible works when there are a bunch of separate, smaller doctor visits, each of which is less than the deductible.

Answer 1

Doesn't matter if it's one doctor's visit or many.

A $1,600 deductible means you're fully responsible for the first $1,600 of medical costs in that year. Once you've spent $1,600, insurance kicks in and covers part or all (depending on your plan) of the remainder.

Your seventh PT visit would see insurance assist with the last $150.