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12 Health Care Benefits To Use Before Year’s End (Or Lose Them Forever)

Don’t let these valuable health perks slip through your fingers before the clock runs out.

digital healthcare
Updated Dec. 17, 2024
Fact checked

As we approach the final months of 2024, it’s a good time to do a check on your health care benefits. After all, you want to avoid wasting money as you head into a new year.

But it can be a bit overwhelming to understand your benefits and what you have remaining. Here are some of the best health care benefits to make sure you use before the end of the year.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Use up your dental insurance

Drazen/Adobe female dentist assistant assisting senior patient

Don’t leave money on the table when it comes to your dental insurance.

If you have some benefits left, schedule any needed treatments before the end of the year. If you don’t need any work done, you could do preventative treatments such as cleanings and x-rays.

Maximize your health care deductible use

everythingpossible/Adobe man calculating healthcare cost using calculator

This is definitely something to keep in mind as the end of the year approaches, especially if you’ve met your deductible for 2024.

After you do that, then your insurance really starts paying for things. So, this is an ideal time to schedule doctor appointments or procedures. After all, the deductible will be reset next year.

Stock up the medicine cabinet

areeya_ann/Adobe over the counter medicine

Give yourself an early holiday gift, and stock up the medicine cabinet before the end of the year.

Use those flexible spending account (FSA) funds before you lose them. This is especially good to keep in mind when your employer contributes money into the account.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Buy contacts or glasses

Production Perig/Adobe testing new glasses with optician

Once you’ve taken advantage of those dental benefits, move on to vision ones.

You can take advantage of the vision benefits to buy new contacts or glasses, or maybe even some sunglasses.

Fill your prescriptions

ACphoto/Adobe prescriptions tablets on white background

Check out your prescriptions as the end of the year approaches.

If you’ve met your deductible, perhaps you can fill your monthly prescriptions one more time before we ring in 2025. Keep in mind that some prescriptions limit how often you can refill them.

Contribute to your HSA plan

Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe health savings accounts (hsas)

Are you on top of your health savings account (HSA)? This is the one where you can put money away for medical needs throughout the year.

The good news? That money doesn’t expire at the end of the year and rolls over. Even better news? You could maximize your contribution now, reach the total allowable amount for the tax year, and potentially lower your annual tax obligation.

Take your time off

Kaspars Grinvalds/Adobe on laptop while relaxing on beach

Here’s some two-part advice about your paid time off (PTO) as we approach 2025.

First, use up your PTO before the end of the year comes and it probably expires. Even if you don’t take a vacation, take the time off to relax, recharge and perhaps start some healthy habits for the new year.

Cash out your time off

H_Ko/Adobe man grabbing savings jar greed concept

Speaking of PTO, you could also check into cashing it out.

Your company may pay you for the PTO you haven’t taken. Perhaps you could put the money away into your retirement account, especially if you haven’t yet met your allowable contribution.

Renew your gym membership now

NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe senior people doing exercises in gym

Are you the type who makes resolutions for the new year?

Maybe your new year's resolution is to lose weight or regularly go to the gym. If so, your employer or health insurance provider might offer you access to a gym membership.

The end of the year is a good time to take advantage and start or renew your membership.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Consider a weight-loss specialist

MP Studio/Adobe A woman following a vegetable-based diet plan.

Perhaps a weight-loss specialist is needed to help manage your exercise and diet.

Use this last part of 2024 to find out if your health insurance covers specialized treatment options. You may find you need your physician to document your need for these treatments. You can schedule the first appointment now to cover it under your deductible this year.

Get the non-smoking products you need

u photostock/Adobe no smoking signage on the wall

Maybe your resolution for 2025 is to stop smoking.

Your health insurance and FSA coverage may cover smoking-cessation products and services. Look to see if things such as nicotine replacement therapy or patches are covered.

Set up your sleep study

Syda Productions/Adobe man sleeping in bed at home at night

If you’ve been having trouble sleeping or feeling tired during the day, your doctor may have suggested a sleep study.

Perhaps you’ve been putting it off because it’s a hassle to schedule or you don’t want another health care expense. Since those studies are often covered by health insurance, why not do it soon before your deductible resets? You might save money and start the new year with a new perspective on your health.

Bottom line

Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe health insurance form

As you can see, there are several areas of your health care benefits to check out before the calendar turns to a new year.

You might also see if you can save money shopping for medical gear or cash in on chiropractor benefits before 2025. Before you start, review your policies and call your insurance company with any questions.

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