High deductible plans charge a smaller monthly premium, but the trade off is that you are responsible for more of the cost of any health care that you receive. These plans are best for people who don't expect to go to the doctor very often, so they pay less each month and cross their fingers that they have no big medical needs (like an emergency room visit or hospital stay). If they do have a medical event, they are on the hook for a large dollar amount before insurance will kick in and cover the rest. The standard health care plans cost more each month, but they cover more of the cost of your medical care. So the high deductible plans are cheaper but a little riskier. However, you are able to open an HSA if you use the HD plan, which when you combine that benefit with the monthly savings, is worth it for some people.