-               Find a Good Agent. Look in the yellow pages, search the web, or ask around, for suggestions of      agents that might be a good fit. You want an agent that is reliable, forthcoming, and able to answer any questions you may have in detail. Check their license as well.

-               Do Your Homework. Shop around a bit before settling on any one company. It may take some     time, but you want to compare plans, pricing, and the overall feel of the health insurance company before you commit. Health insurance is expensive, and extremely important, so you want to take your time in choosing who insures you.

-               Be Accurate and Honest. When filling out applications, do disclose any and all information that is relevant, including preexisting conditions and health problems. If you fail to disclose any information, you could end up with coverage that doesn’t cover procedures you need, or worst case scenario, you could be denied coverage or dropped from your coverage at a later date. It pays to be       honest and upfront.

-               Look for Limitations. Review the policy for limitations such as dollar amounts (a policy might only cover up to $1,000 for certain procedures) or limitations to the amount of visits you can make.

-               Replacing Policies. It isn’t always the best course of action to replace an old policy with a new one. Sometimes these have preexisting condition exclusions or may increase your rates.

-               Be Sure of the Pre Look Provision. Companies are required to give you a 10 day grace period to review and research the policy before it is set in stone. If you decide within that 10 day period that you are dissatisfied any way, they are obligated to cancel your policy.

-               Keep Track of Payments. Make sure if you pay in cash to always obtain receipts. Keep a paper trail of payments for future reference, should a dispute ever arise.