Coordination of Benefits is probably the biggest thing of the health insurance business that gets confused. What coordination of benefits does is put into order insurance policies when you have two or more insurance policies. Some think, and I’ve heard this: “Well, my plan is better than my wife, so we will use mine as primary.”

Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. There are guidelines, most by the government itself, which determine the order of policies. Make sure you are checking this out before getting more insurance. Some plans have their own deductibles or conditions for coordinating, so don’t assume, a second insurance will automatically pick up everything the first policy didn’t.

Please, please, double and triple check your policies. Don’t get caught paying for something you don’t need.