NOW FOR THE ELEVEN OPTIONAL PROVISIONS:

13) Change of Occupation - If the insured changes to a more hazardous occupation, benefits may be reduced to reflect the higher premiums you would have been assessed. If the insured changes to a less hazardous occupation, premiums may be reduced OR you will be given a refund.

14) Misstatement of Age - If the misstatement resulted in an overpayment of premium, the excess will be refunded. If the misstatement resulted in an underpayment, the missing premiums will be subtracted from benefits.

15) Other insurance with same insurer - If you inadvertently buy two of the same policy with the same insurer, one policy will be cancelled and the premium returned to you. Benefits may only be paid out on the policy remaining.

16) Medical Expense Policies - If the insured has two policies with different companies, the two insurers will co-ordinate benefits just like you find with group health policies. (There are some exceptions. With Aflac for example, no coordination of benefits is done, even with multiple Aflac policies. I mention them as only one example of an insurer with this business model.)

17) Disability income policy benefits - Your disability income benefit will be divided on a pro rata basis (similar to co-ordination of benefits) if you have multiple policies.

18) Earnings to Insurance - This provision states that your total disability benefit may not exceed your pre-disability income. Insurers are so petrified that legions of insureds will sit on their haunches and just collect their checks -- Never mind that your medical expenses eat up most of what you are collecting. They will co-ordinate their benefits to you, and refund overpaid premiums.

19) Unpaid Premiums - If you are behind on premiums at the time of loss, the unpaid premium is deducted from the benefit amount before the check is issued.

20) Cancellation - Five days written notice is required, and the insurer will refund you a pro-rata amount of the unearned premium.

21) Conformity with Statutes - Any health insurance policy that does not conform to state law will automatically include any state mandated provision. This is so that the insurer does not have to print all new policies with every change in state insurance laws.

22) Illegal Occupation - If you are engaged in something illegal at the time of loss - buying street drugs, making meth, robbing a bank - the insurer does not have to pay your medical claim or your death benefit.

23) Narcotics - No benefits are payable if the insured is injured while under the influence of a narcotic UNLESS the narcotic was administered under a physician’s care. So if you get in a car accident while sleep driving under the influence of your prescription sleeping pill, your bills should still get paid.