Tying it all together: The cost-sharing balancing act

Always keep this in mind: buying insurance is about balancing premium cost versus coverage. Expensive health plans usually provide more comprehensive benefits – you pay a smaller share of medical bills and/ have more flexibility in terms of which doctors you can visit and what services are covered.

Think about what health care services you need and about what you can afford. Then you'll be able to make the proper decision when choosing your type of plan and making decisions about payments and cost.