It's that time of year again, where I like to remind everyone to use up their extended health benefits. Why let them go to waste? Many benefit programs "reset" at the beginning of the calendar year and anything unused is NOT rolled over.
Make sure you prioritize all the appointments you want to get done before the end of the year.
For example, if you need dental work, an eye exam, or need to see a specialist like a podiatrist, put those on the top of your list--don't procrastinate. Just like you, others want to "cash in" their benefits too and healthcare providers may not be able to book you in right away.
Check how much medical supplies you have left.
Do you have enough contact lenses to last you another year? How about any drug prescriptions that are eligible for refills before the new year?
If you are running low on any medical supplies that you use on a daily basis, it's best to refill them with whatever coverage you have.
Don't forget your extra health spending account.
Some employers will also allocate a certain amount towards an extra health spending account. These extra "flex-dollars" can also be used towards items that a not fully covered by your standard health benefits plan. Many of my patients use it towards prescription sunglasses.
People generally don't like to leave any money behind, so why would you not use up all your health benefits each year? If you don't use it, you lose it!