HDHPs are awesome if the deductible and OOP max is low-ish (less than $2000/$4000) AND you either don't see doctors very often or you see them all of the time A

HDHPs are awesome if the deductible and OOP max is low-ish (less than $2000/$4000) AND you either don't see doctors very often or you see them all of the time AND your employer contributes. That is the only combination with which I'd ever recommend a HDHP. Just about everyone is better off with a PPO. I had a HDHP for a few years. $1500 deductible/$2500 OOP max; employer contributed $750/year. I loved the concept and contributed myself, but basically any doctors appointment I'd have would wipe out my contributions. I saw many doctors in 2021 due to random stomach issues that were ultimately GERD. I landed up paying out of pocket before hitting the deductible. I now have a PPO. The issue is that they are often the cheapest plan to get (because of the HD part) and many HDHPs have crazy high deductibles and astronomical OOP maxes (with out of network deductibles and OOP maxes that are of this solar system), so that + people (understandably) not understanding medical insurance = a very bad time