What type of coverage can a deductible affect in health insurance?

A deductible is an amount that a policyholder must pay out-of-pocket before their health insurance begins to cover costs. This aspect of insurance is relevant to various types of covered healthcare services and not limited to a specific category.

When a deductible is in place, it generally applies to most healthcare services, which means that policyholders will need to meet this threshold before their insurance starts picking up the costs for a wide array of services. This includes hospital stays, surgeries, specialist visits, and even urgent care services, among others.

While certain preventive care services may be exempt from the deductible requirements under various healthcare laws, the overarching principle is that the deductible affects a broad scope of healthcare services. Thus, rather than being limited to specific types of care like preventive services, specialist services, or emergency care, it impacts nearly all types of covered healthcare services once the deductible is met. This is why the correct answer reflects the comprehensive nature of coverage that a deductible can influence.