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HMO? PPO?
6 Tips for Choosing the Best Type of Health Plan for Your Budget
4. Crunch the numbers.
Try to compare options, apples to apples, to understand what your costs could be. A pricier HMO plan that combines low co-payments, covered treatment for a child – from wellness to winter colds – and covered prescriptions might pay off. A high-deductible plan's lower premiums look good, but does your cash flow allow enough flexibility to pay for a $500 procedure if needed during the year? Estimate your anticipated costs over a full year with each health insurance option, including premiums, doctor's office visit co-payments, prescription costs, alternative care such as massage and chiropractic and other care, such as mental health care, that one plan might cover while another does not. 
5. Consider quality.
Review health plan materials to see how many providers are board-certified and how many participating facilities are highly rated. Ask friends and family about their experiences with the insurer and its providers. If you have favorite physicians, make sure they are part of the health plan network. You can even call your physician's billing office and ask them which plans are known to be good about paying claims promptly – a trait that will help your bottom line and keep you in the billing office's good graces. 6. Take a psych test.
Consider how each plan will work with your own personality. Do you have the self-discipline to put funds in your HSA? If not, you might find yourself saddled with unanticipated bills for medical care. Would you feel more comfortable knowing everything is covered? Then you might be happy with a restricted network in exchange for the security of an HMO. Understanding your comfort level will help you make the right choice.