A first-ever U.S. News analysis of nearly 6,000 health insurance plans marketed to individuals and families reveals that many of the consumers who enroll in these plans may confront budget-wrecking out-of-pocket costs that deplete their savings.

Large numbers of plans severely limit coverage for such services as prescription drugs, maternity coverage, mental health treatment, and rehabilitation therapy.

To help consumers make more informed choices, U.S. News today launchedBest Health Insurance Plans, an interactive consumer tool, to help those who are not covered by an employer or a government plan find a health plan that best meets their individual or family needs.

For the rest of the article: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-insurance/articles/2012/10/03/many-insurance-plans-heap-healthcare-costs-on-consumers

BTW, my plan through Nuance this year? One plan, NO choice, had to take it: $5,000 deductible, PLUS copay, PLUS coinsurance, PLUS the "usual and customary discount" applied to every bill. This is before examining the paper copy of the policy that was NOT sent to me so I could scan it for what services aren't covered.

ADDENDUM now that we're on the political board: The premium is at least not higher, and maybe a bit lower, but they do NOT offer to allow us to put that money into the tax-free health savings accounts some of us were saving money in to make up for deficiencies on the last plan. That would have cost them virtually nothing, and I'm sure their managers do have them because they were actually set up to double as a tax dodge for people who need more of those. They were a Republican addition to Obamacare, accommodated to get the bill passed. The Dems wanted a different version geared specifically to insureds' needs, not their physicians'.

Do I sound...displeased about all this? I am.