Deductible
Deductibles are typically used to deter the large number of claims that a consumer can be reasonably expected to bear the cost of. By restricting its coverage to events that are significant enough to incur large costs, the insurance firm expects to pay out slightly smaller amounts much less frequently, incurring much higher savings. As a result, insurance premiums are typically cheaper when they involve higher deductibles. For example, health insurance companies offer plans with high premiums and low deductibles, or plans with low premiums and high deductibles. One plan may have a premium of $1,087 a month with a $6,000 deductible, while a competitive plan may have a premium of $877 a month with a $12,700 deductible. The consumer with the $6,000 deductible will have to pay $6,000 in health care costs before the insurance plan pays anything. The consumer with the $12,700 deductible will have to pay $12,700.
Tax-deductible loss
According to the United States Internal Revenue Code certain losses are deductible for tax purposes. To qualify, the loss must not be compensated by insurance and it must be sustained during the taxable year. If the loss is a casualty or theft of the personal, family, or living property of the taxpayer, the loss must result from an event that is identifiable, damaging, and sudden, unexpected, and unusual in nature. Examples are hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. A house that suffers from termite damage would not generally qualify because it is considered to be gradual and progressive. The loss is reduced by a $100 per event and the total loss might be reduced by the 10% of adjusted gross income floor.