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1. I paid for all my own health care throughout the year because I never reached my $500 deductible. Now that it's January again, my insurance company wants me to start from $0 and spend $500 again before they'll start paying my claims. Is this right?

   Count yourself lucky that you weren't sick enough to incur any large health care costs. Yes, indemnity plans require the deductible to be paid each year. If your health is still excellent, you might want to check the plan's various deductible options. Would a higher deductible save you money? Of course, you need to balance the risk that you might incur more expenses in the coming year.

2. I have diabetes and my husband is changing jobs. Will I be able to get health insurance from his new employer?

   If you were insured during the past 12 months, you can be covered under his new plan with no waiting period for treatment of your diabetes. If not, you might consider staying on his old plan under COBRA provisions until you have been insured a full 12 months, otherwise, you could incur a waiting period under the new plan. Make sure, though, that you time the ending of your COBRA coverage with an open enrollment period on your husband's new plan so you won't have a period in which you're uninsured.

3. I really like my Ob/Gyn. Will I have to change if I get a new health insurance plan?

   If you are joining a plan that requires you to use a health care professional on the plan's approved list, you'll want to make sure your Ob/Gyn is on that list. Otherwise, you might have to pay for his or her care out of your own pocket or change health care professionals.

4. Will my health insurance pay for pregnancy and/or fertility treatment?

   You'll have to read your plan's policy. If you can't find an answer there, you can call your plan's member services department. Many insurance policies do not cover pregnancies or fertility treatments. Others cover only some types of fertility treatments. As is the case with any elective medical care, you need to check your policy closely and learn about what it will and will not cover before you incur any costs.

5. The one plan my employer offers is an HMO that I feel doesn't provide adequately for my family and me. What can I do?

   Unfortunately, you need to either buy this group insurance or buy a policy on your own for now. You can, however, appeal to your employer to offer more choices. If the company you work for pays only a set amount per employee per month, offering more choices shouldn't cost it more money. Your portion of the premiums may be higher, though.

6. My insurance company won't pay its portion-80 percent-for my visit to a health care professional. The insurance company has paid 80 percent of a lesser amount. Do I have to pay the balance?

   Most likely, yes. Your insurance company probably has written into the policy that it pays its portion of only the "usual and customary fee." The usual and customary fee for services of the type you received are probably less than your health care professional charged. (Ask the member services department of your insurance company; also find out what the usual and customary fee is.) You can ask your health care professional if he will reduce his fees to bring them in line with the usual and customary. If he or she doesn't agree, you are most likely responsible for this amount.

7. Should I pay more for the point-of-service plan, or stick with the HMO?

   Look at the list of health care professionals available under the less-expensive HMO option; are you satisfied with it? If so, you may not need to purchase the POS plan. Keep in mind that the difference between what the plan reimburses and what the out-of-plan provider charges may be quite different, and you have to pay the difference.

8. I have a winter home in Florida where I spend half the year. How does this affect my health insurance?

   You want to make sure you purchase a policy that allows you to get health care services in both your hometown and in Florida. In many cases, HMOs and PPOs don't allow this.