Health insurance mistakes that raise your hospital bill

Failing to read your policy exclusions

Most individuals buy an insurance policy thinking it has everything covered — until the hospital bill indicates otherwise. Every policy includes exclusions — treatments, conditions, or procedures that are not covered. Dental procedures, cosmetic surgery, or specific pre-existing conditions, for instance, can be excluded for a couple of years. Failure to read this fine print will bring unpleasant surprises at the checkout counter. Always go through your policy document carefully or ask from your insurer a comprehensive list of exclusions before buying or renewing your policy.

Omission of the waiting period clause

Another expensive error is ignoring the waiting period. Most health insurance plans have a waiting period for pre-existing conditions, mat