San Juan County’s main hospital system, SJRMC, this week encouraged patients who already have met their 2025 insurance deductible to consider scheduling eligible care before year-end to minimize out-of-pocket expenses. The advisory, posted by the medical center, explains how deductibles operate, gives examples of care that can be booked now, and reminds patients that insurance deductibles typically reset in January.

At the center of the message is a straightforward financial reality: many health plans require patients to pay a set amount out of pocket before insurance begins to cover costs, and once that deductible has been met, additional covered services for the remainder of the calendar year may come at reduced personal cost. For local residents who have already met their 2025 deductible, that window creates an opportunity to obtain preventive screenings, necessary check-ups, or elective procedures with a smaller financial barrier before plans return to zero on January 1.

The advisory has immediate implications for both individual households and the community health system. For patients, scheduling care now can mean lower bills for procedures that might otherwise be costly. For SJRMC and other providers in the county, the end-of-year incentive can create a surge in appointments for routine and elective services, intensifying demand for clinic time, staff availability and follow-up resources.

Public health officials say increased uptake of preventive services and screenings can lead to earlier detection of illness and better long-term outcomes, a meaningful benefit for a rural county where access and transportation challenges already complicate care-seeking. At the same time, the seasonal pattern highlights systemic inequities: those able to take time off work, navigate transportation, or afford ancillary costs are better positioned to take advantage of end-of-year coverage windows, while lower-income and time-constrained residents may be left behind.

Health policy context matters. Annual deductible design influences when people seek care and can crowd services into predictable peaks, straining local capacity. The advisory underscores the gap between insurance structure and equitable access to timely care, pointing to possible areas for policy discussion—such as more flexible benefit design or community supports to help residents schedule needed care without financial or logistical barriers.

SJRMC’s reminder is practical for patients and prompts broader questions for the county about how to ensure that cost-design in insurance does not widen health disparities. Residents who think they may have met their deductible are advised to check their insurance statements, confirm coverage for specific services, and contact SJRMC scheduling or their primary care provider to discuss appointment availability before the January reset.