Plans vary in features such as cost, providers, services, and quality of care.
The overall cost of providing the plan is called the premium. In most cases, you pay a portion of the premium through payroll deductions, while your employer contributes a portion on your behalf. In some plans, you have to meet a deductible. This means that you pay a certain amount of health care expenses each year before the plan begins to pay for your care. Some plans, such as HMOs or POS plans, may not require that you meet a deductible if you use in-network services.