Final answer:
An individual who is part of a group insurance plan is known as a subscriber. This person may be an employee or union member with coverage extending to family, and is responsible for various costs like deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments within the health care system, with some costs also subsidized by the government in certain programs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who belongs to a group insurance plan is referred to as a subscriber. A subscriber is typically an employee or union member who is covered under an employment-based insurance plan that may extend benefits to their family members. In contrast, direct-purchase insurance is when coverage is bought directly from a private company by an individual without an employer or union intermediary.
For example, within the context of a health insurance plan, subscribers are required to pay various costs associated with their medical care, including deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments. The deductible is an initial amount the subscriber pays out-of-pocket before the insurance begins to cover costs. After the deductible is met, the subscriber often shares the cost of healthcare services through co-insurance or copays, where they pay a percentage or a fixed amount of the service, respectively, while the insurance covers the remaining costs.
In certain health care systems, such as Part B, subscribers pay a monthly fee and are responsible for deductible charges and copayments, while the government subsidizes a significant portion of the overall costs.