Most of us pay our health insurance premiums monthly; usually using an automatic bank draft or a credit card.

Here’s a quick story with some important lessons.

A long time buddy has been on a health care roller coaster for months, including weeks (yes, plural!) in the hospital.

Guess what? His credit card expired.

ABC Insurance Company sent him a letter stating his coverage was in danger of lapsing unless a premium was paid.

Well, as noted, my buddy wasn’t around to open his mail.

Thank goodness his wife did!

Tip # 1. If you’re paying premiums with a credit card, check the expiration date and notify your insurer if it’s been updated.

Tip # 2. How many of us routinely set aside insurance correspondence? (Just another indecipherable EOB anyway!)

Don’t.

BTW, when my buddy’s wife tried to fix this, she encountered HIPAA privacy roadblocks. “Sorry, Mrs. Buddy, but we need to talk to our Policyholder.” She made it happen, but what if he’d been on a ventilator!

Tip # 3. I know someone who could have fixed this a lot faster.

Sometimes I feel like the Maytag Repairman!