Having any form of health insurance is better than not having any health insurance at all, but not all health insurance plans are created equal. There are three things that all great health insurance companies provide that set the top guys apart from the "good enough" crowd. Some insurance companies leave customers out to dry when they need their coverage most. Everyone wants the best health insurance coverage possible, so check out these three common factors and see how your health insurance coverage stacks up.

Emergency coverage

Emergency coverage is a pretty big deal. Obviously emergency medical coverage is one of the more critical aspects of a health insurance plan but not all emergency coverage plans are built the same. Some health care plans require a primary care physician to approve of certain emergency treatments. While this may save the insurance provider some money, it may leave you writing in agony waiting on the red tape. Make sure that your insurance provider offers the best and most inclusive emergency coverage. This plan provision could be the difference between a simple emergency room visit and a long painful ordeal.

Pre-requisites

All health insurance companies make you fill out little surveys before they offer coverage. These surveys are designed to analyze your medical history, and your family's medical history, to determine the likelihood of serious illness or injury. Failure to meet certain pre-requisites may result in denial of coverage. Good insurance companies will not have tons of pre-requisites for coverage. Pre-requisites are designed to weed out potentially expensive patients, but people shouldn't be denied coverage because of their genetic history.

Renewable Provision

This is one of the most important aspects of good health insurance coverage. Renewable provision ensures that your insurance plan cannot cancel on you if you fall gravely ill. Some insurance plans have nasty little tricks for weaseling out of paying for treatment when people need it most. Renewable provision ensures this cannot happen. Ideally, you will also want an insurance plan with a reasonable out of pocket expense limit. If you fall ill and despite your health insurance, still end up taking on heavy out of pocket expenses, then your insurance coverage was simply not all that it could have been.

When shopping for health insurance it is always best to shop between several health insurance companies if that option is available. Most insurance companies and insurance plans are subject to a rating system that uses a variety of factors to determine quality of care. It is always a good idea to consult these ratings systems. Additionally, it is imperative that the three previously mentioned elements are present in your health care plan.