Everybody knows it's important to check your credit information once a year. But there's another set of records you should check that you probably don't even think about: Your family's medical records.

Harryette Katzen is pretty diligent when it comes to keeping her family's records straight.

"I've got files for bill paying, files for bills already paid, my son's school records," Harryette explains.

But she's missing one major file...their medical records. Financial planner Carolyn McClanahan is also a doctor. She says periodically reviewing your medical history is critical. "I don't think consumers know how often errors occur in medical records and how those records can impact them."

Mistakes like transcription errors, misdiagnosis, outdated information, and accidental omissions. McClanahan says most people know errors can be harmful to their health, but don't realize inaccuracies can also affect their insurability.

"If you have an error in your medical record and you apply for health insurance life insurance, or disability, or long term care insurance, it can cause denial," McClanahan warns.

The mistake might not even seem obvious. For example, a doctor may not specify how serious a condition is.

"The doctor may write down anxiety, and not stress that it's situational which insurers look at that totally differently as opposed to chronic anxiety," McClanahan says.

McClanahan says if you're not denied insurance, you might end up paying higher premiums. She says there are ways to prevent mistakes. "Discuss with your doctor the diagnosis they are writing down. And, whenever you have a problem that's been resolved that they note in the chart that that problem is no longer applicable to you."

Harryette now plans to check with her doctor to make sure everything is in order. She says, "I never even knew that you could request a copy of your medical records but yes, it's probably a pretty good idea to do that."

You can also check your record at the Medical Information Bureau. It acts pretty much the same as the credit reporting agencies for your credit scores.

To request your record from the Medical Information Bureau...you can go to mib.com