Keeping track of deductibles, especially for a family, can be time consuming, but is an important task. Every policy has different deductibles for lab work, hospital emergency room visits, hospital stays, doctor visits and x-rays, and it is often difficult to track.

Keeping track of your out-of-pocket expenses becomes very important when it comes time to complete your taxes. It also comes in handy to know what your expenses are for medical care when choosing to change companies or policies.

A file folder that includes a copy of the policy, copies of your medical bills and copies of what your insurance company has paid on those bills is usually all you will need.

When a bill comes for a provider, you will usually receive a statement from your insurance company showing what portion of the bill they paid, and many times providers write off the remainder, if it is not a large sum.

If you visit several doctors, you may want to have a file folder for each doctor or provider.

Insurance companies do occasionally make mistakes, but they are usually on top of their game. Having a copy of the policy handy makes it easy to check deductible levels and whether a particular service is covered or not.

It also serves as a ready resource for telephone numbers, website information and your contact at the insurance company.