A deductible is the amount you pay for care before your insurance kicks in. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible, you will pay $1,000 before your insurance covers health care costs. There can be another deductible for a...

A premium is the amount you pay, typically per month, to maintain your insurance. If you have a $200 premium, you will pay $200 a month to have health insurance.

Schools that mandate insurance coverage often require proof of comparable insurance to waive school coverage. If you’re on a non-school plan, waive your school coverage in time to avoid the charge.

If you have a medical condition before getting insurance, insurers may not cover your pre-existing condition for a period of time—or at all.  In 2014 insurers won’t be able to deny coverage due to these conditions.

Many plans only cover care up to a certain amount. Under the new law, insurers can no longer cap how much they pay for care over your lifetime; annual dollar limits on coverage are phased out by 2014.