With ample opportunities for billing errors within today’s complex health care claims and reimbursements systems, it’s a wonder people carrying individual medical insurance don’t spend more time carefully checking each Explanation of Benefit (EOB). The EOB shows what was charged less what the insurer agreed to cover, the balance being what you owe. Checking your EOB is the first line of defense against overpaying on a health insurance claim.

Your EOB may not reveal a lot, but you can check to see that your name, address, and policy information are correct. You should also confirm that you were charged the “allowable” rate set by your insurer and not a penny more. Deductibles can be as high as $10,000, and payment comes entirely from your bank account, which makes group discounts all the more important.

Other common errors the EOB may reveal include: Failing to get credit for a deductible that has been paid, in-network providers classified as out-of-network, legitimate claims denied as “medically unnecessary,” “upcoding” (being charged for more expensive services than you received), and “unbundling” (when a single procedure is broken down and billed as many). At Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Web site www.bcbs.com/betterknowledge/anti-fraud/explanation-of-benefits.html, there’s a brief tutorial on how to read and double-check an EOB.

According to a 2001 Harvard study, illness and its associated costs are responsible for 50 percent of all bankruptcies, so it literally pays to request itemized bills from hospitals and other service providers. They are your next line of self-defense against overpayment. The problem is making sense of them, which may require hiring a patient advocate.

Lee Taber works for HealthCare Mediation Group auditing itemized bills, coordinating appeals, and, when possible, negotiating reduced payments and workable payment schedules to keep clients from getting a damaging credit rating. While costly mistakes are rare, Taber estimates that 40 to 50 percent of hospital bills contain errors: “The potential for error is high when a bill is 15 pages long and lists every aspirin and other medical supply.”

Advocates receive a percentage of the money they save you. Their cut varies but can run as high as 30 percent. He concisely sums up the benefit of working with an advocate: “If you don’t know what you’re looking for, how would you find it?”

Indeed, visit the Individual Services page at Medical Billing Advocates of America at www.billadvocates.com/ where you can read about a patient who was charged $12 for a “mucus recovery system” a box of tissues.

If paying someone to fix a mess you didn’t make gets you mad, imagine being the victim of medical identity theft. It’s like losing control of your social security number and private financial info, but this is a loss that can be deadly. If a phony claim is made using your benefits, your chart could contain wrong information when you need urgent care. If your benefits are tapped out by an impostor, you’ll have none left for your own care. According to a World Privacy Forum report on the crime, all levels of the medical system may be involved, in addition to organized crime.

When it comes to your individual medical insurance, do your homework and prepare in the event of inflated bills or medical identity theft. It can save your money and your life.

Private medical insurance is optional insurance which an individual or entire family can take out by paying a monthly premium, the same as with life or home insurance. There are many advantages to paying for private medical insurance and here are just of the reasons you could consider taking out this form of insurance.

Perhaps the biggest advantage to taking private medical insurance is to avoid the long waiting lists that are now common on the NHS. Private health insurance can give you peace of mind that if you become ill then you will be immediately seen and are guaranteed to get the very best of treatment.

The second big plus to having private medical insurance is the choice that comes with it. If you should have to have an operation then you will have a choice over the surgeon that performs the operation along with your choice of hospital. Of course you will have a private room which means that visiting hours won’t be restricted as they are when in a NHS hospital. You will get a choice from a menu and you wont have the medical students standing around your bed that are commonly seen following Doctors around the wards of the hospitals.

Not only will you avoid the waiting lists associated with operations but even for minor operations and treatment you will be seen straight away. There are many choices for the cover you can have and searching online for the best coverage and cheapest cover is essential. However in most cases you will only get what you pay for and if you want to make savings then taking limited cover might be your only option.

Perhaps the only disadvantages to paying for private medical insurance is that not all medical eventualities are covered and the private hospitals might not have the depth of expertise found in the NHS.

The current health insurance system is incredibly complex and constantly changing, and it becomes difficult and overwhelming to keep all of the information straight when searching for the major medical insurance plan that is just right for you and your family. There is so much to consider and the abundance of information can become confusing, but there are resources available that provide information clearly and answer common questions about health insurance. The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) are two leading insurance trade associations that provide consumers with information about the various health insurance plans available today.

LIFE is a non-profit organization that desires to satisfy the public’s increasing need for education and information about health insurance. On its Web site (www.life-line.org), LIFE presents a section called “Health Insurance” to answer commonly asked questions about the industry, to provide information about different types of health care policies, and to discuss ways to compare one policy with another. Some questions the LIFE Web site addresses include:

* Who needs health insurance?

* What are the different types of health insurance?

* Where can I get coverage?

* What should I know when buying?

* Where do I buy health insurance?

* How much does health care cost?

Another great resource, AHIP can be used to further expand your knowledge about major medical insurance. As a national association representing nearly 1,300 member companies who provide health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans, AHIP is a credible, go-to resource for health insurance information. AHIP knows all of the choices that people buying health insurance will face, so they aim to provide plenty of information on their Web site, as well as links to even more information found on other credible sites. All of the information displayed is intended to make learning about health insurance and selecting a plan much less complicated.

AHIP also supplies consumer guides to magnify the necessity of health insurance and to answer many frequently asked questions. AHIP’s consumer guides provide all of the answers from the very basic questions like, “Why do you need health insurance?” to the more complex, “What happens if you have health insurance through your employer and you leave your job?” AHIP also equips its readers with an extensive list of Health Insurance Plan links. Consumers can browse the list and click through hundreds of health insurance providers in minutes.

For more information and answers to common health insurance questions, visit the Insurance Information Institute’s Web site (www.iii.org). This site is easy to navigate and the information is presented very clearly. On the site you will find the health insurance basics and common health insurance questions answered. The Insurance Information Institute supplies a wealth of material for consumers about different kinds of health insurancewhat they are, how they differ, and how to pick the right health insurance plan. They address the cost of care, the services covered, and the quality of insurance.

Health insurance should be considered a priority because everyone needs medical care from time to time. Since the abundance of information is available and easily accessible, it is in your best interest to use it and make an informed decision when you select a health insurance plan for you and your family.

Travel medical insurance is not an option. Travel medical insurance is not a luxury when you travel. You may think or rationalize - if it comes between the choice of a couple of nice meals on my vacation or travels or purchasing “optional” travel health medical insurance “I know that I will need/ enjoy that meal” , or better accommodations but not the “medical , health , travel insurance”.

Yet not taking out, purchasing the plan or be underinsured can make your travels not only not as pleasant but change your whole life and financial situation for the worst.

Whether you are traveling for pleasure, for business or even for medical treatment itself - that is “medical tourism”, travel medical insurance is essential for yourself, your family and traveling companions.

Even if you are young you may encounter an accidental injury or illness. No one is immune. Say for example you are on a skiing trip in Canada and you suffer an injury or accident on the slopes. Health care may be “free “for Canadians but not for an out of country, American tourist. You will pay full bore, back at home, American medical care rates. Imagine being uninsured and having to pay these bills. Imagine a bank loan or charge card loan to pay off for many years to come. All with horrendous interest rates.

Imagine you are a tourist from the U.K. and you are visiting New York City - perhaps to view the famous Dakota of Beatles rock star John Lennon fame. Imagine you have one too many New York City famous Hot Dog vendor’s products that land you in the hospital with a severe case of food poisoning. Again your U.K. national health care is not going to pay your medical care bills while traveling in the states. While at least only a small portion of that medical treatment bill. You will be left with the lion’s share of that large medical bill to pay off - over time most likely. Who needs such lingering memories of your “wonderful” vacation?

Even if you are traveling overseas for more reasonable or prompt medical care as a “medical tourist”, one of your families or traveling companions may take ill. You may be the one going offshore for medical or health care treatment yet it may become their emergency that may become the focal point and perhaps the cost factor - not your own treatment. Again, who is going for the necessary and most likely medical care on the spot and how?

Hence purchasing and providing for travel medical insurance is not an option.

It is not an add on but rather an essential component of travel and travel health plans in this day and age.

Have proper coverage and ask questions. Does your health care coverage from work or your own purchase cover your travel health needs? What is covered, what is not? How long will that coverage last? Is this coverage adequate or show supplementary coverage be afforded and purchased as well?

If you have to or decide to purchase travel medical coverage again asks questions. Do not assume. Is the coverage adequate both in terms of coverage and the time duration of your trip? Can the time length be increased if need be or required? What is covered, what is not by the health care travel medical insurance? Is the underwriting firm well known, reputable and have either a toll free number or even better offices in the geographic areas of your travels. Do you need to get approval before medical treatment begins? Do the medical care providers get paid and reimbursed directly from the insurance company or is it a case of the cash being paid from your pocket directly with reimbursement to yourself at a later date by the insurance firm? Again ask questions on the spot not later. If the clerk is uncertain of the answer then await a direct answer or if needed contact their superior or “head office”.

In the end when it comes to travel and travel health care concerns and coverage a penny spent in effort and preparation is worth a ton of cure as well as prevented costs and aggravations. Pleasant travels.

Buying a private healthcare policy can be a stressful experience for those who have always been insured by their company’s health plan. I’ve specialized in helping my clients locate quality health insurance for well over ten years now and have been an insurance broker since 1985. I’ve outlined the process we use to help our clients find the right plan for their needs.

The 3 areas we focus on are affordability, quality of coverage and the strength of the insurance carrier.

Insurance carrier- Your health insurance company should be stable financially and have a history for paying claims.

Quality of coverage - The medical coverage must meet your needs. It should cover doctors, hospitals, labs and prescriptions. It should also have doctors and hospitals in their networks that are close to your home.

Price- Your medical plan must be priced competitively relative to the benefits provided.

The basic process we use is to:

Determine which private medical companies are worthy of being considered.

Determine which choices offered by those health care companies offer proper coverages

Determine which insurance plans have the lowest overall cost relative to the health insurance benefits provided

Health Insurance Companies

An individual healthcare provider should have good financial ratings and be in good standing with your state’s insurance department. You may also want to do a web search for complaints.

You might search for “Mega Health complaints” before buying a policy from that or any other company. All healthcare company has some unhappy customers just by virtue of the volume of clients they have. However, a red flag should go up in your mind if there are too many complaints.

Another thing to be concerned with is how much they pay in benefits as a percentage of the premium they take in. A good company will write checks for about 80% of the money they take in to cover their clients’ healthcare procedures.

Level of Protection - What does your health insurance plan cover?

There are 2 aspects of coverage. One is the treatments that are covered. The other is the network’s list of physicians that the insurance policy includes.

Covered Medical Procedures

You should read through your insurance plan’s outline of coverage or official brochure to see how doctors, hospitals and prescriptions are covered. Your healthcare policy should cover you in both the doctor’s office and the hospital and should have a good lifetime maximum benefit. I suggest at least five million in coverage.

Healthcare Insurance Exclusions and Limitations

Most if not all health care coverage policies will have a list of procedures and services that they won’t pay for. Most of the items in this section are reasonable and are included in the plans of most carriers also. Policies usually won’t cover a nose job for example. There are are often exclusions that you may find in one insurance policy but not in others. Pregnancy coverage is one example of this. Generally plans will not cover the costs of a the birth of a child. The ones that do usually cost more when compared to otherwise similar plans that don’t cover maternity. The exclusions and limitations section of your policy or its brochure should be read carefully before you make your decision about purchase.

Health Insurance Provider Lists

Knowing which doctors are in your health insurance company’s network is crucial. You might be able to find a list of doctor’s who accept a given insurance plan on the Internet or by calling your health care insurance broker.

Cost - Finding the best low cost medical policy

It is easy to compare individual health insurance costs, but its much harder to ensure that you are getting good coverage for your money.

Comparing Health Insurance Plans

After you have ruled out the companies with poor coverage and/or networks, it is time to look at price as a factor.

The Best Health Insurance Coverage for the Money

The best medical insurance coverage, may not be the best plan for you. Often the best policy is overpriced and does not offer coverage that justifies the extra that it costs. Make sure that any plan you purchase is:

Provided by a good healthcare insurance carrier

Will cover your medical needs well

Fits your budget

Medical insurance companies are often paying out for treatment for heart conditions. In fact, it is up there at the top with cancers in being one of the biggest factors that will bring down British people. Without medical insurance, sufferers are often subjected to lengthy waits for treatment on the National Health Service.

However, there is good news. Scientists have discovered a drug which cuts death from a common heart problem by almost a third. Atrial fibrillation is a disorder of the heart rhythm but ‘Multaq’ has been shown to reduce the incidents of this claiming lives by up to thirty per cent.

This medical condition affects 700,000 Britons but the recent advancement in its treatment is the first in twenty years. The fast and erratic heartbeat of patients needs stabilising to avoid angina and heart failure. It is the upper chambers of the heart that are out of rhythm and causes the heart to beat up to twice its normal speed.

Another complication of this condition is the fact that it causes tiny blood clots to form and these can lead to strokes, another topper on the medical insurance claims. At best, previous treatments involved the use of digoxin which successfully slows the heart beat but cannot regulate it and death rates remained the same. Drugs to thin the blood followed by minor electric shocks to restore normal rhythm are also used.

This drug is considered a huge breakthrough because it is having positive effects on all those that are trialling it, without side effects. More than 4,500 patients from 33 countries have trialled the effectiveness of Multaq over a year and this is when it was discovered that cardiovascular deaths were greatly reduced among the group. Quality of life is greatly improved for all those taking the drug and life time expectancy is greatly increased. It is hoped there will be a license for using this drug as early as next year.

If this is something of a warning to those who are concerned about their heart health, or for those who would like to keep the cost of their medical insurance premiums down, there is even more good news as to how we can look after ourselves. Drink red wine.

A chemical found in the skin of red grapes contains resveratrol, an anti-aging compound. This has been captured and put into pill form and has received the backing of the UK’s largest pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. In fact, GSK bought out the company that made the drug for £361 million.

The drug was tried in lengthy tests on mice and it was found that they lived longer, were almost immune to the effects of obesity and rarely get diabetes, cancer or Alzheimer’s. It was also found that if the rodents were subject to starvation diets they could even extend their life by up to thirty per cent. It is believed this is because starving the body activates a gene known as sirtuin, a survival gene.

These discoveries are hoped to bring about more treatment for diseases such as cancer and Alzheimers. The same scientists have also found that flavanoids in blueberries and other fresh fruit interact with nerve cells and stimulates the re-growth of brain cells.

So, it would seem that while scientists are doing their best to find the elixir of life, it will always pay to look after our bodies to enable them to continue working as long as possible. And if this includes eating tasty food with the occasional glass of red wine then who am I to argue?

I was asked to give a speech to a group in Boise, ID about how seniors can stay in their homes by using a reverse mortgage. This was an easy one for me because I had helped my mother do this very thing. She didn’t need as much help as some of the other seniors I have spoken with who worked with companies who specialize in home remodeling for seniors.

Some senior homeowners use reverse mortgages to help them financially by retiring debt or generating income. But there are also many seniors who love their homes and want to stay in them but find that their homes just don’t accommodate their needs any more. In fact, according to an AARP housing survey, 83% of older Americans want to stay in their current homes for the rest of their lives. Of the 83%, many are looking for some help to make it possible. Here is how a reverse mortgage can help seniors stay in their homes by allowing them to make improvements and alterations to their homes enabling them to stay at home where they are comfortable.

Depending on the homeowners budget, some changes are small and can be made relatively easily. Items such as hand rails, grab bars and lever handles on doors are fairly minor alterations and not terribly expensive. However, sometimes an older home may need some more expensive updating or home improvement for the senior borrower to be comfortable or practical for seniors to stay. Some of these items can get very expensive.

Some of these improvements or updating include new windows, doors and screens that open and close easily and updated kitchens for easier meal preparation. The home may require general maintenance of roofs, heating and air conditioning, flooring and anything else in the home that may need updating. Some of the items that may need to be considered which are expensive are items such as elevators and lifts, ramps, enlarging doorways and halls to allow wheelchairs to move freely through and installing emergency communication systems.

Some seniors also require alterations to the bathrooms and there are some very nice tubs and showers made with the senior user in mind enabling them to be self-sufficient. Still others use the proceeds of a reverse mortgage to hire in-home care so that they can stay at home in that manner.

I always encourage senior borrowers to check out places like the AARP website. It’ full of great information on projects to make their homes more livable, how to choose a good contractor and avoid bad the ones, and products geared to the senior homeowner. Many homeowners get into the chicken or egg scenario they don’t know what projects they want to do or what they will cost until they look into the available improvements; but then they don’t know how much money they will have to spend until they look into their financing.

In this article, I want to tackle the legal subject of probate. This may sound like an odd topic for real estate investors, but, in fact, you can often find good investments when someone passes away.

It’s a fact of human nature that inheritors of probate estate will often want to sell that property quickly to get the money and aren’t always concerned about getting full value from the home. Or, they may live out-of-state and simply not realize the full value of the property. When these situations occur, the opportunities for bargains arise!

What is Probate? The term “probate” comes from the Latin word “probatum” meaning “prove.” In other words, the probate is a legal process by which it’s proved that a will is (or isn’t) authentic.

Specific procedures vary by state, but probate generally includes the following steps: * When a person dies, the will is filed with the local probate court (sometimes called a “surrogate” or “chancery” court). An inventory is then taken of the property. The property is appraised for its value. Assuming the will is determined valid in court, any legal debts (including death taxes) must be paid. After debts and fees are paid, the property is distributed as dictated by the will.

You may wonder what happens if the will isn’t valid or no will was left. In that case, the estate still must go through a intestacy”(”without a will”) proceeding. This means the property is distributed to the closest relatives as dictated by state law.

Since you may be involved personally in probate proceedings (as distinct from an investor’s point of view), it pays to know the advantages and disadvantages of the probate system.

Advantages of the Probate System - Probate makes sure that only your beneficiaries receive your property. In other words, it prevents fraud. Creditors have to prove their claims against the estate. The probate process can resolve any disagreements involving your estate and disposition of your assets.

Another advantage is that the probate process limits the time creditors have to make claims against the estate. There’s a “statute of limitations.” So, if creditors don’t make their claims within the specified time period, those claims are no longer enforceable.

Disadvantages of the Probate System - In the opinion of many critics, it costs way too much for the services rendered. They claim that probate provides no real benefits, except to provide lawyers with excessive fees.

An AARP study concluded that the probate process can generate legal fees of 12%-20% of the estate for the lawyer alone. It also concluded that probate can reduce the estate passing to one’s heirs by 5% or more. Source- http://www.aarp.org

In a few states, the fees are based on a percentage of the estate. Fees may be based on “gross” probate estate. Additional costs may include court costs, appraiser’s fees, etc. Also, basic fees may be set by statute. In addition, if “extraordinary” services are performed, the attorney/executor can ask for additional fees.

A second criticism in terms of the fees charged is that probate is primarily a clerical and administrative skill. Because of this fact, critics say there’s no necessity for court proceedings or the research, legal and adversarial skills of a lawyer. They make the claim that the process normally is handled by the lawyer’s secretary anyway or by a probate form preparation company. The result is that the beneficiaries end up paying far too much for the services rendered.

Critics also charge that probate proceedings consume too much time. On average, a typical probate proceeding can take between one and two years. During that time, the beneficiaries generally get nothing or, perhaps, a “family allowance” dictated by a judge.

Since probate can be expensive, I’ll give you a list of legal avoidance techniques you can use for your personal situations. Because these techniques are not the main focus of this article, I urge you to investigate them on your own. Exemption of certain small amounts of property left by will from probate (depends on state) Living trusts Transfer on death registration for stocks and bonds Gifts made while you’re alive. Joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety Life insurance Pay-on-death financial accounts Retirement accounts

How To Find Probate Estate Properties - Such properties can be hard to find, but there are several sources you can contact.

One source is real estate agents. Contact them to let them know you’re interested in such properties, but be sure to specify the type of properties you’re seeking and how much you want to spend.

A second source is newspapers. Look at the obituary notices and then check with local property records to determine if the deceased owned local real estate.

Another source is the estate executor. An executor is the person in charge of selling the estate property so he or she is the person you’ll need to go through in order to make a buy.

A final source is public records. Wills in probate are a matter of public record, so you can check for them at the local court house or other local governmental agency.

Benefits of Buying Probate Properties - A primary advantage of buying probate properties is great prices! Prices of many of these properties can be as much as 30 to 40% below market value.

Another benefit is a big inventory. The bad news is that we all die. The good news (for the living, anyway!) is that there will always be many probate properties available.

A third advantage is that it’s a buyer’s market. Many beneficiaries don’t really want an inherited property; they simply want the cash from the sale of that property, even if it’s a below-market price.

Many beneficiaries also don’t want the responsibilities that come along with the inherited property; estate taxes, repairs, maintenance, the mortgage payments, and so forth. So, they’re willing to sell at bargain prices.

The Disadvantage of Buying Probate Properties - The identification and buying of probate properties will require patience on your part. Remember, it can take anywhere from six months to two years (or more!) to complete the probate process).

As I said earlier, know the type of probate property you’re willing to buy and the amount of money you’re willing to spend to get it. If you work with a real estate agent, communicate those guidelines to him or her so they don’t waste time on properties you’re not interested in.

Key Point: Do your research, work closely with realtors, and have patience!

Reader’s Question:

Can anyone tell me what steps to take to get a lower rate on my Dallas auto insurance rates? I have two cars, both about 5 years old and nothing too fancy, both are American made in good shape and reliable.

Cheryl

Dallas, TX

Answer: Hi Cheryl, you will be happy to know that there are tons of options available to you get help you reduce your current auto insurance premiums. Dallas Texas is a great place to live in terms of negotiating a lower rate and getting better coverage. Do you quality for any of these discount opportunities?

1. Are you in the military or retired military

2. Are you member of a credit union or other large organization like a teachers labor union?

3. Are you a student with good grades

4. Do you have good credit, increasing your credit score can improve your chances of a better auto insurance rate.

5. Are you an AARP member or senior citizen

6. Can you combine your other insurance products into one? Combine home and auto together will reduce your rates generally

7. Are you a good driver, safe drivers obviously will get lower rates

9 .Do you only use your vehicle for driving short distances, like just to go to work. This is called “limited use”.

10. Are you married, make sure your agent knows if you are. Your rates are likely to decrease by getting hitched.

The internet makes things so easy these days, so my recommendation is to start online and compare rates there. Some websites offer multiple rate comparisons at the same time. This is very helpful and will show you very easily and quickly the differences in coverages and costs. I would also recommend you do not use your home phone number or your main email address when you fill out the quote form just so you don’t get hassled with phone and email solicitations.

Increasing your deductible amount is probably the single biggest factor in lowering your rate. Carry a deductible as high as a $1,000 if you can, you will see a dramatic savings over the years. Remember you only pay the deductible amount when you file a claim AND your insurance carrier is responsible for paying out the claim. If you get into an accident and the other driver is responsible, you do not pay a deductible.

If you are a good driver with a clean driving record, you should have nothing to worry about and will enjoy the huge savings on your annual premiums. If you are a high risk driver….you might want to start putting some extra money aside to cover your deductible amount when the time comes.

There is one site that I highly recommend to get a rate quote, and it was the easiest and fastest I found on the Internet….so you might want to try it out for yourself. The economy is tough, but that does not mean you have to pay more than you should, and good chance that is what you have been doing.

Insurance for your medical coverage, for your life and for your automobile all create anxiety, but the stress over medical coverage is highest due to escalating and run-away prices. You can decrease your stress with the help of the eight tips that will save you money below.

1. Do your homework. Balance your need to purchase adequate health care insurance with the need to purchase life insurance, home insurance and other insurance policies. The greatest majority of Americans cannot afford adequate insurance coverage, period. But creating a plan that includes saving for insurance coverage is less stressful than giving up.

2. Comparison shop. You can purchase a policy that has stronger coverage or you can buy insurance you don’t currently have if you’ll lower the costs you currently pay. Comparison shop. Go to unbiased resources such as the magazine Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org), which accepts no advertisements to avoid conflicts of interest when rating. Make it a habit to revisit your coverage once a year.

3. Think “group coverage.” If you are self-employed or working for an organization that does not provide insurance, consult professional organizations in your field to learn if “group” self-insurance is available that can offer lower rates than individual-only policies.

4. Investigate a provider’s ability to deliver what he promises you before you sign the bottom line. A.M. Best provides free access to its Insurer Ratings Directory at its Web site at www.ambest.com. You can also contact the attorney general’s office in your state for additional resources. Do a “google.com” search, too, for the latest news and reports on the reputation of insurance companies.

5. Don’t make mistakes on your insurance application. If you make a mistake or leave out any information (especially on many of today’s health policies that will void your policy over the smallest mistakes or omissions), you risk being declared ineligible. When you need your insurance is when some insurers will go over your policy word by word searching for any mistakes. So don’t make mistakes.

6. Always pay for your insurance coverage with a check, not cash. You need a paper trail to prove you have coverage and have made your payments in a timely fashion. Keep your records in a safe place.

7. Do your homework before saying yes to supplemental insurance. Don’t pay for supplemental insurance you don’t need. Also ask yourself: Is this policy really just a company that provides discounts that you can negotiate yourself or find by comparison shopping?

8. If you are over the age of 50. If you are 50 or older, or approaching that age, consider joining the American Association of Retired Persons (www.aarp.org). The richest corporations have powerful lobbyists to win tax breaks and cost savings from Congress every year. The AARP combines its large membership voice to equal the lobbying clout of many top corporate interests.

In our world today, purchasing insurance for your medical needs, your life span and your car can create high levels of stress. We hope our tips help to lower your stress level.