Health insurance plans provide you with some form of protection and relief each time life's misfortunes take a toll on your health and physical being. Although you can sleep more soundly, knowing that when such types of crisis come, you will not be suffering heavily from financial risks and losses, you should be aware that not all health insurance plans are jacks of all trade. There are a number of services that most health insurance plans traditionally do not cover. Check out the list to find out what some of these exempt items and services are.

• ACUPUNCTURE. Although growing in popularity and increasingly being the subject of scientific research work, acupuncture remains a controversial form of healthcare service offered by most Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese healthcare practitioners. A number of Caucasians have, however, studied the craft and are qualified to practice acupuncture.

Generally, acupuncture involves inserting needles into specific body parts for you to achieve therapy, pain relief or healing. The results vary however. What might work for you might not work well for others. In some clinics, no needles are inserted. Instead, beds made of upright nails are provided for you, the patient, to lie on.

• COSMETIC SERVICES. Cosmetic services include basic dermatologic services such as facials, acne treatment and laser permanent hair removal, and more complicated operations such as plastic surgery, skin grading, breast augmentation, nip tucking and Botox injection. Although these services are aimed to take care of your physical looks, they are not considered to be that necessary for your overall physical healthcare. Depending on the policies of your insurance company, considerations may be given for special cases involving burns from accidents, as well as infections.

• PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Medical consultation with insurance-authorized, recognized and approved healthcare partners may be free, but be warned that prescription drugs are not because of the high costs associated with them. If you do your homework, you can find a healthcare insurance plan that will agree to work around a formulary, a list of prescription drugs (ranging from generic to non-preferred brand names) that the insurance company agrees to co-pay with you. The catch with formularies however is that the list keeps on changing on a regular basis. If prescription drugs are your priority, you may want to get a prescription insurance plan.

• TRAVELING. A number of insurance companies operate in several branches and have multiple tie-ups and connections with hospitals, clinics and other agencies. However, do not think any healthcare service provider will open its doors for just any insured patient. Geographic connection is very much in place in insurance companies. If you have plans of traveling abroad, you will have to get a separate insurance for that: a travel insurance. A travel insurance covers a number of eventualities that may occur while you are on the go: sickness, trip cancellations as well as incidences of lost or misplaced luggage.

Acupuncture, cosmetic services, prescription drugs and traveling are only a few of the many exclusions in most healthcare insurance plans. Be sure to ask about these things before getting a health insurance plan for yourself.