Year-end is fast approaching, and it is important to make sure that you are maximizing your employer benefits. Typically, many benefits reset at the end of each year, so here are some benefits to review before year-end to make sure you get the benefits you deserve.
1. Review Health and Dental benefits
If you have not done so, make appointments for annual checkups by year-end. For medical, this is good for a review of your overall health, especially as you age. For dental benefits, you often get things like two free cleanings per year, so make an appointment to at least get preventative measures done to reduce future costs. If you have an upcoming expensive dental procedure, you can start it now and use up the max benefit for 2020 and have the rest done in 2021 using the new benefits. This strategy can keep more money in your pocket!
2. Review your vacation time
Depending on the state you live in and/or your employers’ policy, some vacation time is not eligible for rollover, so make sure to not lose that time before year-end. If your employer allows you to roll overtime or get paid out, review your options now. Also, now is a great time to put in vacation requests for next year since many people delay doing this, and typically those that ask first are granted the time off first.
3. Use up your Medical Savings Account (MSA) by year-end
Your employer may offer a Health Savings Account or a Medical Savings Account. The Health Savings Account (HSA) can be rolled over so no need to spend the money, but the Medical Savings Account (MSA) must be spent by year-end or you lose the money you contributed!
4. Max out contributions to employer-sponsored retirement plans
If you are saving a lot towards retirement, review your contribution elections to see is you can max out your plan contributions for 2020 and plan for how much you will contribute in 2021.
As the new year approaches review your benefits to make sure you do not lose benefits you are entitled to before year-end. Now is also the ideal time to begin some planning for your benefits for 2021.
