Be sure that you're getting all the discounts you may be entitled to, such as discounts for
· A car with antilock brakes, automatic seat belts, and airbags.

· A particular profession. Statistics show that people in certain types of professions - engineers and teachers, for example - tend to have fewer accidents.

· Military service. Some insurance companies give you a break on the cost of your insurance if you're in the military or used to be. If you have to purchase a new car, buy one like your granny might drive. High-profile/high-performance cars cost more to insure. Find out if your association membership entitles you to a discount on your auto insurance.

Health insurance

Health insurance costs continue to skyrocket, and finding ways to reduce them can seriously help your household budget. Here are some suggestions: Talk with your employer's health plan administrator, or with your insur- ance broker or agent if you're not part of a group plan, about what you can do to lower your monthly health insurance costs. Possibilities may include increasing your annual deductible, switching insurance compa- nies, or changing plans. Keep the following in mind:

· If you're willing to sacrifice the freedom to go to whatever doctor, pharmacy, or hospital you want, you can save money. Sign up with a plan that limits your choices; the more flexible, the more costly.

· If someone in your family has a preexisting medical condition, don't change plans or insurers before you know how coverage for that condition may be affected. Some plans or providers may refuse to cover the condition at all or may not cover it for a period of time - six months to a year, for example.

· Be aware that the insurance plan with the lowest premium cost is not a good deal if it doesn't offer the coverage and benefits you need. In the long run, paying a little extra to have the appropriate coverage may mean lower out-of-pocket expenses for doctors, hos- pitals, and prescription drugs.