Of course, nobody wants to fall ill or get injured in any way, but if and when you would need to put your health coverage to use, here are things you need to know:

1. BMI: The higher your body mass index, the higher your health insurance premium.
2. Alcohol: Drinking adds to your health risk and thus increases your premium.
3. Drugs and Smoking: Any sort of illegal drug and tobacco adds to your health risk.
4. Paying: Don’t pay if you don’t have a say of who will be treating you. This does not apply if you purposely see an out-of-network doctor. If you don’t have direct control of who will be treating you, you are not liable for payments.
5. Your coverage: Depending on your state, you could be eligible for more benefits than your plan is telling you about.
6. Phone medical services: This service works twenty-four hours a day and is offered by local clinics. Medical advice is given by trained personnel who have as much knowledge as registered nurses with ten years’ experience. Phone med services can save you the hassle of having to go to your doctor. However, this is not recommended if you are in serious need of medical attention.
7. Your signature and privacy: Refuse to sign any forms until after 90 days. When you are in need of non-urgent but necessary medical care such as pre-natal visits, your insurance company may refuse to cover you and ask you to sign release forms allowing them to view your medical history, which the law says are private. Insurance companies do this to search for any info concerning your medical history that you may have accidentally omitted when you applied for coverage. If anything is found, you may be denied coverage. So, refuse to sign any forms. After 90 days, your insurance carrier will stop inquiring and will start paying for the medical care you need that prompted the company to attempt to deny you coverage.
8. Writing letters: Emails sometimes don’t get any response, and phone calls are not recorded, so anything you say through phone cannot be proven. Letters almost always get a response. Follow your plan’s appeal process for letters and send copies to your state insurance commissioner. Keep copies of every letter you’ve sent your plan and everything they’ve sent back.
9. State board: If your doctor ordered some sort of medical service for you and your insurance carrier denies you coverage for it, your doctor can tell the insurer he’s going to complain to the state board that regulates health plans. However, don’t actually contact your state board yourself if a claim is denied.
10. Cheaper drugs: Doctors often prescribe the latest drugs, which tend to be the most expensive. Make sure these newer, high-end meds are what you really need before you leave the doctor’s office. Sometimes your insurance plan won’t pay for them at all; other times it’ll charge higher co-pays. Always ask your doctor (or the pharmacist) for generics, which are just as effective but cheaper than the newer ones.

Tip: If you really need a medicine that doesn’t have a generic version, order it by mail. Many plans have a less-expensive mail-order pharmacy option.

1. What to watch out for and things you should do  

Health insurance carriers and medical providers are not perfect. They can handle bills improperly. Hence, there is always a chance that you will be billed for something your health insurance company was supposed to cover. To catch mistakes like these, keep track of all payments and co-payments you make. Make sure you receive a receipt when you make payments. Make sure you go over your Explanation of Benefits and that you receive proper coverage from your insurance company.

Tip: If your insurance company refuses to cover your high medical bills, advocates can help you. Some advocates help you interact with your doctor, while others specialize in insurance disputes. Most of all, advocate firms keep the letters going out on your behalf, saving you time, energy, and headaches. Advocates know the laws, the regulations—things a regular consumer might not know. This makes insurers nervous.

Tip: To find an advocate, contact the Patient Advocate Foundation or the Society for Healthcare Consumer Advocacy. Medical associations such as the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated keep lists of advocates.