Do your homework. Check out the insurance companies you like with your state’s commissioner of insurance at http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm. Make sure they’re licensed in your state, and that there are no complaints against the company. Be careful about plans that don’t offer insurance coverage but only discounts on the cost of health care services. Generally such plans aren’t a good buy. Know your rights under federal and state laws. Some states have laws that control whether an insurance company must offer you a policy, what conditions must be covered, and how high the premiums can be. All states offer some type of consumer protections. Visit http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net for more information on getting and keeping insurance.