If cost is key, consider an HMO. Members of those plans typically pay lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs, but choice of doctors can be more restricted. Check out how much you paid for coverage in the past 12 months. Then compare that with monthly premiums you would have to pay for a new plan, as well as the deductibles, co-pays or co-insurance, and prescriptions.

Consider a PPO for choice. Those plans provide greater ability to choose any doctor, although reimbursement rates might be lower if you go out of the provider list. So check the list of providers in any new plans you are considering.

Check the Ratings (HMO or PPO). Our reader score is based on overall satisfaction with the health plan. We also measured several factors that we have found to be related to overall patient satisfaction.

Get a report card. If a plan you're considering is not in listed on our tables, you might be able to find information about it on the NCQA Web site, at www.ncqa.org. The group is partly funded by the health-care industry.

Be cautious with a chronic condition. In our survey, HMO patients who were ill faced more problems with their plans than did PPO members, especially in getting care they believed they needed. But more PPO members who said they had a serious illness had billing issues and spent lots more on out-of-pocket expenses ($586 vs. $164). Look for plans with disease-management programs for your condition.

Call your department of insurance. It can tell you whether it has received complaints about the plan. For information, go to www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm.