On Thursday, the Obama administration said that people whose policies had been canceled would be exempt from the penalties for not buying insurance, and they would be permitted to buy catastrophic policies, which are typically available only to people under age 30 or who are experiencing hardship.

DEDUCTIBLES The deductibles in exchange plans tend to be significantly higher than in employer-provided plans, but some plans may allow a couple of doctor office visits, for instance, before the deductible must be met. Some policies will apply only lower-cost prescriptions to the deductible, whereas in other plans, it’s only the higher-cost drugs that are applied. (All plans cover certain preventive services before the deductible has been met).

“We have seen a huge amount of variability in how plans are treating their deductible,” said Caroline Pearson, a vice president at Avalere Health, a consulting firm that has reviewed more than 600 plans nationwide. “It’s incredibly inconsistent, and it’s not transparent on the website. You have to dig into the plan documents to figure it out.”

So before you buy, try to figure out the following: Are any services excluded from the deductible? Do I have a separate deductible for drugs? How does the deductible work for families — do individuals have their own? Is there a separate deductible for going out of network?

NETWORKS Many consumers are already bemoaning the more restrictive networks of providers, which have intentionally been kept small to keep overall costs down. To make the best choice when networks are limited, experts suggest selecting one with a hospital you’re comfortable with.

“When people choose plans, they tend to look for a specific doctor,” said Holly Wallack, a medical billing advocate in Miami Beach. “The smarter thing to do is to look for the best hospital in your area and make sure that it is in your network.”

In some plans, there is no coverage at all if you see a provider outside of the network, including much of New York, with the exception of eight counties in the western part of the state.