If a tree falls in your yard, your insurance agent might not hear it. You probably bought your home policy years ago, then stuffed it in a file somewhere. Will it be there for you when you need it? Here's how to protect yourself: 1. You'll probably have to fight to get a big claim paid. Homeowners who suffer a loss of $30,000 or more get the most pushback from their insurers over damages, coverage and slow payouts, ShopSmart's recent survey data shows. But the coverage of huge losses is exactly why you buy home insurance. Protect yourself. You can cut your odds of a fight by doing business with an insurer that pays its claims. The best carriers for claim-payment satisfaction are Amica, Auto-Owners and USAA, according to the most recent Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of 9,905 subscribers who filed homeowner claims from 2010 through the first six months of 2013. Continue Reading

If you want to save money on your home insurance, one of the best tips is to compare quotes from a range of different companies using an online comparison website. Remember to shop around at renewal too, as loyalty rarely pays. There are other steps you can take to ensure that you don't pay over the odds for cover.

Here are MoneySupermarket's top tips:

- Combine buildings and contents cover. Insurers want your business, so if you take out buildings and contents insurance with the same firm, you can often negotiate a cheaper price.

- Cut out the frills. If you don't need any added insurance extras, you could reduce your premium by choosing a basic policy. Accidental damage cover, for example, can increase your premiums by as much as 25%.

- Pay your premiums annually. It can be convenient to spread your payments over monthly installments, but it is almost always more expensive because firms charge an additional admin fee. So try to make a one-off payment each year.

- Pay a bigger voluntary excess. Home insurance policies come with a compulsory excess, which is the amount you have to pay towards any claim. So, if there is an excess of £250, you would have to pay the first £250 of any claim.
But you can also choose to pay a voluntary excess (this is on top of the compulsory excess). Opting to do so can bring the cost of your premium down. However, make sure the total excess is affordable in case you do have to make a claim.

- Secure your home. Insurers look favorably on customers who make their home secure because it reduces the likelihood of theft. A good tip is to install a burglar alarm. But not just any alarm.
Most firms will insist on an approved system before they will consider cutting the cost of cover. The NACOSS standard alarm, for example, can reduce premiums in some cases by as much as 7.5%.

- Locks are another important security device. Five-lever mortise locks are recommended for external doors; windows should ideally have two bolt locks. If you have just moved home, it's a good idea to change the locks because you never know who might still have keys to the property.

- It's also worth considering joining a neighbourhood watch scheme as it can reduce your premiums by up to 5%. Security lighting can also act as a deterrent because unwelcome visitors are less likely to loiter if they are 'in the spotlight'.

- Build up a no-claims discount. If you don't make any claims, you will usually earn a discount on your premiums. The no-claims discount can be valuable, adding up to a reduction of more than 50% after five years in some cases. So prevention is important.

- Your home is more vulnerable to theft when you are not around, so if you are going away it's wise to take extra precautions to minimise the risk of a claim.

- Time-switch lights will give the impression that you are at home and so deter burglars. Remember to cancel newspaper and milk deliveries - and ask someone you can trust to open and close the curtains and collect mail.
Also, don't leave spare keys in obvious places such as under a doormat. Beware too of so-called 'hook 'n' crook' thefts, where keys are left so close to a door that a burglar can simply hook them through a letterbox and open the door.

- Fire safety is essential in any home - and smoke alarms should be fitted throughout your property. Check regularly that the device is working as 18 people die each year because the battery in their smoke alarm was flat or missing.
Faulty electrics cause around 7,000 house fires across the country every year, so make sure there are no faulty wires or overloaded plug sockets. And always turn off electrical items at night. If you use candles, snuff them out properly to prevent fires - the same with cigarettes. Take care when cooking, too, and don't leave any pans unattended.

- Insulate your pipes. Burst water pipes are one of the most common causes of home insurance claims, so insulate pipes and tanks to prevent freezing in cold weather.
It's also a good idea to ask a neighbour or friend to check on your house if you are away for a long period over the winter months. If you think pipes are frozen, turn off the water at the valve and header tank to cut down water leakage.

- Protect against floods. People who live in an area where flooding is a danger should follow the Environment Agency's advice to help protect their home and sign up to its flood warning scheme.

- Watch out for subsidence. If your home is affected by subsidence, it can work out expensive. Movement in the soil can increase the likelihood of subsidence so always seek professional advice if you decide to plant or chop down any trees. And if you spot any cracks, contact your insurer immediately before the problem gets any worse.

- Pay your own way. Think twice before making a claim. If it's only a minor repair it might be better to use your savings to sort out the problem and so protect your no-claims discount.

With health-care costs continuing to rise with no end in sight, knowing just what your plan covers can pay off.

Understanding the ins and outs of your plan before visiting the doctor can avoid getting stuck paying for treatments, tests and practices out of pocket. "When people start shopping for insurance, they tend to focus on how much they will pay every month," says Lisa Zamosky, health-care reform expert at WebMD. "What they miss are things like: does my plan limit the number of doctor visits and what is actually being covered?"

Navigating your way through your health coverage can be arduous, but experts offered the following key areas to keep in mind when choosing and reviewing a policy:

1. Wellness Visits Aren't Always Free



Wellness and prevention are major cornerstones of the Affordable Care Act as a way to reduce long-term care costs. The president's signature legislation requires all insurance plans to offer consumers access to wellness visits and health screenings free of charge.

But there's a limit. Whether it's a colonoscopy, mammogram or wellness visit for a child, there are always rules associated with it, says Zamosky. For example, some plans have age limits for services like a colonoscopy or mammogram to be free.

Some plans also limit the number of wellness visits a year, and confusion of what constitutes a wellness abounds. According to insurance experts, if a person goes to a wellness appointment with a list of complaints about ailments the appointment could be no longer be preventive, but diagnostic, and the patient will be charged accordingly.

2. Beware of Specific Limits, Costs and Deductibles



High-deductible plans, which mean you have to cover any minor or routine health care costs until your deductible is met, are becoming more common.

But it's not just up-front and out-of-pocket costs you have to pay on these plans. Insured people can be charged for co-insurance and co-pays, all of which may differ depending on the type of doctor you are seeing. For instance, some plans charge higher co-pays when you see a specialist compared to your regular doctor.

Other plans may require a referral before you can see a specialist. "You have to be aware of the specific limits," says Carrie Mclean, director of customer care at eHealthInsurance. "It's important to know everything from the co-pay to the co-insurance. Plans can work differently."

You should also know when you need preauthorization for a service in order to have your plan kick in.

"If you have to have surgery, most insurance companies require you to submit paperwork to demonstrate this medically necessary," says Zamosky. "You have to find out what those rules are."

It's also a good idea to bring a list of prescription medicines your insurance covers when you go to the doctors to make sure you aren't prescribed something you can't afford.

3. Know Your Doctors



For many people, particularly ones with chronic diseases, they see the same doctors and specialists all the time and are loyal to their care givers. But that loyalty can end up costing a lot of money if one of the doctors falls out of their network.

While it seems like a no brainer, it's common for people to purchase insurance without first checking to see if their current doctor accepts that plan. It's not enough to ask a doctor if he or she takes a particular type of insurance, ask about a specific plan. "People really get caught off guard" with this, says Mclean. "Know who your network provider is because if you go out of network, you can get sticker shock."

4. Read the Summary of Benefits if Nothing Else



Insurance companies make it easy to understand your benefits through a summary of benefits, which includes details of the plan including what is covered before and after the deductible, says Zamosky

It also explains what is covered when you go to the emergency room and other specialists. "It's an important document to take a look at and refer back to before you go for a service so you know what the rules of engagement are and what you can expect to pay," says Zamosky.