Spring is the perfect time to review your health and benefits. Whether you’re in a new plan year or simply want to get more from your coverage, here are five tips to help you maximize your benefits.
1. Check Your Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Maximum
Your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum determines how much you pay for care. The deductible is what you pay before your plan starts sharing costs; the out-of-pocket maximum is the most you’ll pay in a plan year before your plan covers 100% of covered, in‑network services.
Check your year-to-date totals on your Explanation of Benefits, your carrier’s member portal or app, or by calling the number on your ID card. If you are close to meeting your deductible, it may be a good time to schedule care you have been delaying.
2. Schedule Preventative Care
Preventive care, including your annual physical, is essential to staying healthy and catching issues early. Under most major plans, annual physicals are covered as preventive care at no cost to you when you use an in‑network provider and schedule it specifically as an annual physical.
Booking this visit in the spring helps you take full advantage of your coverage and leaves the rest of the year to use your deductible on any needed follow‑up care.
3. Review Your Dental and Vision Benefits
Vision and dental insurance play a key role in protecting your eye and oral health. Most dental plans cover two cleanings per year, and most vision plans include an annual eye exam plus an allowance for glasses or contact lenses, with discounts on higher-cost procedures.
Because these benefits typically do not roll over, scheduling your dental and vision appointments now helps you use the coverage you are already paying for before the plan year ends.
4. Check in on Your HSA or FSA
Log in to your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) this spring to check your balance and plan ahead.
HSA funds roll over year to year and may become eligible for tax-advantaged investing, offering triple tax benefits: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. FSA funds generally must be used within the plan year, though some employers allow a short grace period or limited carryover.
Knowing your balance and rules now helps you use every dollar wisely on eligible costs like prescriptions and copays.
5. Ask Questions Early
Understanding your benefits is vital to protecting both your health and your budget. While open enrollment provides an overview, you do not have to wait until then to ask questions.
Your HR team or benefits administrator is available year-round to explain how your plan works. Reaching out now builds your confidence and helps you make more informed, cost-effective decisions for the rest of the year.
Summary
Before summer arrives, take a moment to review your benefits so you can get the most value from your coverage all year. Download the bulletin for more details.
