It's really about choice. Some people have mainly routine needs - doctor visits for minor illness and injury - and use copay plans to pay for them, which make doctor office visits feel affordable. You'll pay more for the convenience of knowing what you'll spend every time you visit the doctor or need a prescription.

Others use insurance to pay only for catastrophic events. They pay out of their pocket for the costs associated with everyday health care needs in exchange for a lower premium. Even in the worst-case, when you have a significant medical expense, you're still likely to be ahead of the game financially when you use insurance this way.

Look at an actual premium* comparison between a low-deductible copay plan and a high-deductible plan - then choose what feels right for you.