A premium is the monthly payment that keeps your health insurance active. It’s what you pay to stay covered.

A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for healthcare before your insurance starts sharing the costs. For example, if your deductible is $1,000, you cover the first $1,000 of your expenses.

Co-pays are set amounts you pay for services, like $20 for a doctor visit. Co-insurance is a percentage of the cost you pay after your deductible, such as 20% of a medical procedure.

The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you’ll pay in a year for covered healthcare. Once you reach this limit, your insurance covers 100% of any further costs.

A network is a group of doctors, hospitals, and providers your insurance works with. Seeing providers in your network usually costs less than going out-of-network.

It depends on whether your doctor is in the new plan’s network. Check the network directory or ask your doctor if they accept the new insurance.

HMO plans typically require you to choose a primary care doctor and get referrals for specialists. PPO plans offer more flexibility—no referrals needed—but may come with higher costs.

Preventive care includes services like vaccines, screenings, and annual check-ups that help prevent illness or catch issues early. Most insurance plans cover these services at no extra cost.