Are you running out of time and ways to spend money you've set aside in an FSA? Here are the 10 best ways to spend your remaining Flexible Saving Account dollars.

Elective surgery -- which often improves quality of life, rather than saves it -- is, by definition, a choice, not a mandate. Some of these procedures are covered by health insurance companies, others are not.

Many situations call for out-of-network care, and some of them won't cost you more than participating providers.

When choosing a dental insurance plan, it's optimal to look for a plan that covers not only your current needs, but the dental care you and your family may require in the near future.

Learn more about your options when a medical procedure recommended by your doctor isn't covered by insurance. Sometimes, it is possible to negotiate with your doctor and insurance company for the best deal.

Health insurance in America is expensive partly because American health care itself is expensive, at least compared to the rest of the industrialized world. The average annual premium on an employer-provided health plan for a family of four reached $12,700 in 2008, according to the National Council on Health Care, a non-partisan reform group. That was up 120 percent since 1999, rising four times faster than the growth in annual wages.

To learn how much of an upcoming surgery is covered by health insurance, ask your surgeon for a breakdown of what your procedure normally costs and what preparation, care and supplies will be necessary both before and after surgery. Then, read the health plan summary patients receive upon insurance enrollment. Inside this booklet, insurance companies typically list covered and excluded costs for preventive to emergency care and everything in between.

Whether you're choosing between employer-sponsored insurance plans or shopping for health insurance on the open market, comparing costs is not enough. More important is who you are and how you will need to use your insurance.

Options for low-cost health insurance include spouse or domestic partner, state, catastrophic and hospital plans. When choosing a plan, consider not only the premium, but also factor in each policy's deductibles, co-pays and limits on out-of-pocket expenses.