With less than three months to go in 2024, it’s a good time to think about your health to-do list. For example, are there appointments or screenings need to make? Are there prescriptions you could refill? Are you up-to-date on your vaccinations?

This month, put that health insurance policy to work and get it done!

After all, these are benefits you pay for, and they’re only available under your current policy until the end of the calendar year. Do yourself, your health, and your wallet a favor and make the most of your plan before 2025. Here are five ways to get started.

1. Make an appointment for a physical with your primary care doctor, if you haven’t yet. It’s important to see your doctor when you’re healthy, and not just when you’re sick. That way, they’ll have a baseline that can help them easily identify any changes as time goes by. Plus, establishing a relationship with a primary care doctor is important: if and when you do get sick, you’ll know where to turn.   

2. Schedule your preventive health services. Your primary care doctor can talk to you about the health services your insurance covers that you should pursue. Some of the things to ask about include cancer screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, and vaccinations, which can protect you and others around you from getting sick (fall is the perfect time for your flu and COVID-19 immunizations). While your doctor may be able to immunize you on the spot, you’ll likely need to schedule the screenings for another time.  

3. Refill any prescriptions you need. If you’ve been putting off refilling any of your prescriptions, take time to get in touch with your pharmacy and arrange to have the medications you need on hand. This could be especially helpful in case of an emergency or if there’s a change to your prescription drug coverage with your new policy.

4. See if you’ve met your deductible or your out-of-pocket max for the year. If you’ve met your deductible, or you’re close to meeting your deductible, then your out-of-pocket costs will be lower for other health services. If you’ve met your out-of-pocket maximum, then your plan should pay 100% for covered services. In both cases, it might make sense to schedule any needed health appointments — whether it’s with a specialist or for a non-emergency surgical procedure — this year rather than waiting for next year, when your new policy begins.

5. Use any funds in your flexible spending account (FSA). With FSAs, it’s use it or lose it! Your FSA funds can cover a whole litany of items, including glasses, contact lenses, prescription medications, deductibles, copayments, medical equipment, dental expenses, acupuncture, chiropractor visits, bandages and more. Here’s a list from the IRS.

Everybody should approach their health insurance policy strategically. When you make the most of your health insurance, your actions may benefit your overall health. And that’s a worthwhile pursuit.