Make the Most of your Health Insurance

12/5/2022

Schedule appointments, tests and surgeries to maximize your health plan benefits before year end

(December 5, 2022) VICTORIA, TEXAS – As the holidays approach, it’s easy to forget to take advantage of your insurance benefits. Now is a good time to review your outstanding health care needs and take full advantage of paid-up deductibles or available funds in Flexible Spending Accounts while you still can.

“In considering their health care needs, it’s important for people to consider the best strategy for using their available health insurance plan benefits,” said Yvette Peuttus, patient access director for DeTar Healthcare System. “Now is the time to take advantage of any unused benefits to complete any outstanding treatments, tests or procedures before the year ends.”

Most health insurance plans have a deductible requirement—a predetermined amount of healthcare expense that must be covered before the plan begins paying the majority of (if not all) remaining expenses. Peuttus says it’s crucial to know how close you are to meeting your deductible—or if you’ve already met it “because once you reach that threshold, you have a limited window of opportunity to obtain health care services and have the bulk of that expense covered by your plan. Remember: a new year brings a new deductible,” she says.

The close of 2022 also affects individuals who have Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)—which are pre-tax dollars set aside primarily for health-related expenses. The Internal Revenue Service requires those funds to be spent—or forfeited—by December 31. It’s a “use it or lose it” proposition, says Peuttus.

If you have been putting off scheduling care, such as an annual check-up, allergy testing, or elective surgery, it would be wise to check your deductible status and your FSA balance to see if there’s money to be saved, encourages Peuttus.

“It’s important to schedule services as soon as possible so there is enough time to have the test or procedure done before the end of the year. Getting everything taken care of by early December will help ensure the services you receive are considered part of your 2022 coverage,” she says.

Every health plan is different. It is important to know how your plan works so you can get the most from your benefits.

Call us at (361) 575-7441 to schedule an appointment.

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