Remember to Use Your Benefits!

Time flies, doesn't it? We've reached the end of 2022. Where did the time go? It's been a year, and I know you've been busy, but you'll want to make time for this.

Unused Dental, Medical, and Vision Benefits 

Hopefully, you've been using your employee benefits throughout the year, but if you still need to, it's time to get on the phone and try to make some appointments. If you're lucky, you'll find an opening, or you'll be able to squeeze in on someone's canceled slot. It never hurts to try. 

Here are some benefits that you may have forgotten about:

Dental 🦷- Most plans allow two cleanings every six months or twice a year. Have you been to the dentist this year? When was your last appointment? Are you due for a cleaning? Ask these questions of yourself and everyone on your plan. 

Medical 🏥- We should be getting an annual wellness check or physical. Most plans will cover your annual exam in full. Getting an appointment this late in the year may be unlikely, but try anyway.

Vision 👀🤓 - Do you wear glasses or contacts? Have you had your eye exam this year? If you have this benefit, an exam may cost you less than $20. You likely will also have an allowance for frames/contacts. Review your plan for details. Also, many vision plans allow for the online purchase of glasses or contacts. If you have a current prescription and haven't ordered contacts/glasses during the benefit period, you could possibly go online and purchase either of these items. Isn't that convenient? 

🎊Bonus🎊 Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Here's a special bonus if you have an FSA. FSAs are "use it or lose it" types of accounts which means if you don't use the funds by the end of the year (unless your employer allows a grace period or carryover of some amount - less typical), you can kiss that money goodbye. I know you don't want that.

The good news is if you still have money in your FSA, you can use it towards many of the expenses related to your dental, medical, or vision benefits. For example, if you find glasses that cost more than your provided allowances on your vision plan, you can use your FSA card to pay the difference. That's the money you've already allotted for these expenses, so why not use it? 

In Summary

You work hard, and you're paying for benefits throughout the year. It's great to have insurance/benefits in case of emergencies, but it behooves you to take full advantage of what you're paying for. Take some time to see what annual benefits you have remaining and try to use them before the current benefit period ends. 

✨Managing Money Like a Boss is about getting what you pay for and not being wasteful. Making the most of the benefits you work hard to provide is a gift to you and your family.✨