What you don't know about insurance policies can cost you. That's the new finding from a national survey by comparison website insuranceQuotes.
"Reading your insurance policy can be kind of boring, but you need to be well informed," said Jason Hargraves, the company's managing editor.
For example, you might think you're covered when you're not, or you might not fully realize all the benefits to which you're entitled.
Here are some insurance myths that need debunking.
Around 60 percent of Americans don't realize that the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate requirement is still in effect for 2018, the report found. This misunderstanding probably stems from the fact that the massive tax overhaul passed toward the end of 2017 did repeal enforcement of the mandate, which required most Americans to buy health insurance or else face a penalty.
However, the important part to remember is that the mandate's enforcement remains in place until 2019. And even then, it's not exactly clear how the change will play out, Hargraves said.
If you've decided to forgo coverage, you could find an unpleasant bill waiting for you at tax season. (In 2017, adults who didn't have health insurance typically had to pay around $700, Hargraves said).
Another 40 percent of Americans didn't know that being a smoker would push up their premium costs. Hargraves said to never lie about whether you smoke or not. "It's easy to click the box that you're not a smoker, but that can come back to haunt you," he said, adding that some people lose all coverage for doing so.
David L. Ryan | Boston Globe | Getty Images
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Almost half of people don't realize that the standard homeowner policy doesn't cover damage done by pests, such as termites and rodents, the insuranceQuotes survey found.
"If you discover you have termites, that's a bad deal," he said.
Also, Hargraves said many people don't know that if someone comes over to their house and gets injured, their homeowner's insurance generally will pay some of the person's medical costs.
However, "if you fall and break your leg, you're on your own," he said.
Source: Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
