It’s natural at the start of a new year to set resolutions to change bad habits or improve our health. Small talk at the office is peppered with questions about how that New Year’s resolution is coming along. Unfortunately, most New Year’s resolutions fail in the first six weeks. Instead of an impractical resolution, why not commit to fully reviewing and using your benefits?
Now’s the time to discover everything your benefits package has to offer, schedule annual appointments, and determine how to maximize your investment. Wise use of your benefits is less a resolution and more of a commitment to your oral and overall health.
It’s easier than you think to get started on this pledge. Here are a few tips to kick off your living wisely in the new year:
- Gather all your health benefit information in one place – physical or virtual – for easy access. This includes medical, vision, dental insurance plans, flexible spending account information, prescription plans, and short-term and long-term disability plans.
- Set aside 15 minutes each day for one to two weeks to review your medical and dental plans. Look for any new details or changes. Make a list of all the questions that you have. Email questions to your plan providers or review their websites for additional information.
- Schedule an annual physical exam with your family physician. Be sure to request enough time for any blood work that might be due.
- Call your optometrist and schedule your vision exam and determine, if necessary, if you are eligible to order contacts or glasses this year. Regular eye exams can detect small changes to eye health and give the optometrist a chance to investigate potential issues.
- Schedule your annual dental exams. Regular preventive exams with your dentist can identify more than 120 different diseases in other parts of the body including the brain, lungs, heart, kidneys, and more. That’s in addition to early oral health issues your dentist can detect like cavities or gum disease. Find a dentist in your area, and use our handy cost estimator tool to avoid feeling uncertain about your dental expenses!
- Schedule required diagnostic tests like mammograms, colonoscopies, gynecological exams, and other specialties now.
Getting answers and scheduling exams takes effort, but these actions will pay off with early detection of illness or, better yet, the peace of mind that everything is fine. Make this year the year you resolve to understand and use your health benefits wisely!
Looking for great dental coverage at an affordable price? Shop Delta Dental plans now to protect your smile.
