Recently insurance companies, and George Bush, have been championing a new kind of health-care called "consumer-directed health plans."

More complex and riskier than traditional health-care, these new plans have patients pay lower monthly premiums in exchange for higher annual deductibles.

If this sounds appealing, keep these questions in mind.

• What health care services am I likely to use?
• How much of my health care costs am I responsible for?
• What is covered?
• Can I save toward future health care costs?
• How can I learn more?

Get informed, because after all, you're essentially placing a bet that you won't get sick.

Rolling the Health Dice [NYT]