easier and more exact. Understand What a Deductible Is Many people coming from a group insurance plan experience sticker shock when they see how high the deductible, or out- of-pocket expense, that comes with some health insurance plans. While higher- deductible plans mean you have to pay more out of pocket in certain cases, they also have a lower premium, which makes them more attractive to some people.  “People need to realize that picking a higher deductible doesn’t mean you have to have $5,000 in the bank in case something happens. Every hospital will work people to make payments,” says Carrie McLean, a licensed insurance agent for eHealthInsurance.com.  Although a higher-deductible plan may not be for everyone, McLean advises if the alternative is no health insurance at all then go with a high-deductible plan. Co-Insurance, Co-Payments and HSAs:  Key Terms to Know Many health insurance plans require the holder to contribute to coverage payments. That contribution is call co-insurance and is the portion you have to pay after the deducible. According to McLean, a popular co-insurance plan is an 80/20 plan in which the insurance company pays 80% of the plan and the consumer picks up the rest.  A co-pay is a flat fee you’ll have to pay every time you visit a doctor or specialist, or the amount you pay for prescriptions. That amount can vary from one plan to the next. A Health Savings Account or HSA is a medical savings account in which consumers can contribute tax-free funds each you to go toward medical expenses.  HSA plans are typically associated with high-deductible plans.   Know What the Plan Covers Health insurance plans come in many different shapes and sizes, which means you’ll have to understand what a plan does and doesn’t cover. All health insurance plans have exclusions and limitations on what they cover and you should know what you are responsible for paying. “Know what your bottom line is,” advises Laden to avoid any surprises.  “It