Deductible refers to an amount of money that must be paid by an insured person before their insurance coverage kicks in. Other synonyms that can be used for the word deductible include excess, retention, franchise, and out-of-pocket expenses. The term excess is often used in the UK and Australia, while retention is common in the US insurance industry. Franchise is a common term used in European insurance policies. Out-of-pocket expenses is often used in medical insurance plans and refers to the part of the medical bill that is not covered by insurance and must be paid by the patient. Regardless of the terminology used, the deductible is an important factor in insurance coverage and can affect the cost of premiums.