Imagine that, under the plan you’re considering, you and your family have a good health year: You go to the doctor a few times for checkups, your partner takes a couple prescriptions, the kids visit urgent care a couple times – and that’s about it.

If you don’t expect to use your plan that often, pay close attention to recurring costs to see if there’s an opportunity to save money. But remember: It’s impossible to fully plan for the unexpected, so be sure to also factor in the cost of getting care if (and when) you need it.

Now imagine the opposite scenario, where you use your plan a lot: You come down with an infection and need to stay in the hospital for a few days, your partner’s prescription list grows, the kids break a few bones at practice on top of getting strep in the fall – and more.

It’s always hard to see situations like this coming, so it’s wise to be sure that your plan makes care affordable if you need to use it. In the end, you’ll want to aim for a good balance between expenses you can plan for (like monthly premiums, deductibles and the out-of-pocket maximum) and ones you can’t (like copays or coinsurance you pay only when you need care).

Health insurance companies work with different doctors and clinics to help you get the best deals on your care.

Getting care from a person or place your plan covers saves you money. On the other hand, getting care somewhere else may mean your health plan pays less, leaving you with bigger bills. That’s why you’ll want to check that the doctors and clinics you expect to visit will be covered by the health insurance plan you’re considering.

The insurance industry is typified by insurers with a number of different organizational forms. Stock insurers are corporations owned by the shareholders of the firm. The shareholders hire managers to run the company and the insurance product is sold to customers who may or may not be shareholders in the firm. Mutual insurers are companies that are owned by their customers. Any policy owner of the company also owns a portion of the company. Reciprocal insurers or reciprocal exchanges are insurance companies where the policy owners of the exchange agree to insure one another. They are very similar to mutual companies.

Lloyd’s associations are insurance companies where the manager who makes the decisions for the firm also has his/her own personal wealth at stake in the firm. Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurers are typically nonprofit (some may now be for-profit), community-oriented health insurance providers. Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies typically offer traditional indemnity health insurance. HMOs or Health Maintenance Organizations are companies that provide comprehensive health care coverage to their customers. HMOs, in their simplest form, provide prepaid health care coverage. Once you pay your premium you can use the services of the HMO at little or no further cost to you.

Medical care is expensive. If you suddenly become seriously ill or injured, the expenses involved in treating you could leave you in financial ruin. Having health insurance means it will be much easier to pay your medical bills should you find yourself in an emergency situation.

Health insurance can cover a variety of things, from your regular checkups and family care to any major medical expenses you might incur. The types of services that are covered will vary depending on your coverage, so make sure to think about your needs before buying a specific health insurance plan.