Use Your Health Benefits Before They Reset: A Year-End Checklist

If you have a workplace benefits plan, there is a good chance part of your yearly coverage will vanish on January 1. Most plans reset every calendar year, and unused amounts usually do not carry over. A few small steps now can save real money.

Step 1: Find your plan details

Log into your insurer’s member portal or read your benefits booklet. Look for:

• Your yearly maximum for each type of care, such as physiotherapy, massage, psychology and vision
• How much has been used so far this year
• Your plan’s reset date, which is not always January 1
• The percentage covered, such as 80 percent
• Any rules about who qualifies as a provider

Step 2: Check for a health spending account

Some employers offer a health spending account (HSA) or a wellness account. These may have their own deadlines and rules. Some allow a short period after year end to submit claims, but not all do.

Step 3: Book the care you already need

This is the main point. If you have been meaning to see someone, now is the time. Typical items to check:

• Physiotherapy, chiropractic or massage
• Psychotherapy or counselling
• Dental check-up and cleaning
• Eye exam and glasses or contacts
• Orthotics or braces, if recommended

Book early. The last weeks of the year fill up quickly.

Step 4: Do not spend just to spend

Using benefits is smart, but buying care you do not need is not. Your plan paying part of a bill does not mean the rest is free. Focus on care that helps you.

Step 5: Ask for the right receipts

Keep itemized receipts showing the provider’s name and registration details, the date, the service and the fee. Submit claims on time. Many plans have a deadline for claims, sometimes 90 days to a year after the service.

Step 6: Ask your provider about direct billing

Some clinics can bill your insurer directly so you only pay the difference. Ask when you book.

Step 7: Plan for next year

Note your reset date in your calendar. Spread appointments through the year to avoid a December rush.

If you have no benefits

You can still lower costs. See our guides on reduced fees, teaching clinics and medical expense tax credits.

Find a verified provider in your budget. Search by city, service and price at AffordableHealth.ca. It is free for patients.

This article is general information, not insurance or financial advice. Your own plan’s terms decide what is covered. Check with your insurer or plan administrator.