Merritt Personal Lines Manual: Health Insurance: COBRA, Cancer and Other Specialized Policies: Conclusion

If you are buying any kind of specialty health insurance, read and compare the policies you are considering before you buy one and make sure you understand all of the provisions. Marketing or sales literature is no substitute for the actual policy. Read the policy itself before you buy.

Ask for a summary of each policy's benefits or an outline of coverage. Good agents and good insurance companies want you to know what you are buying.

And bear in mind: In some cases, even after you buy a policy, if you find that it doesn't meet your needs, you may have 30 days to return the policy and get your money back.

This is called the free look option. In order to use it effectively, you need to know the right questions to ask.