Mid-Year Health Check-in Tips from Cigna!
Keeping healthy through the fall months and back to school days can be a challenge. When I took my five year old in for his annual well visit and back to school shots, his doctor warned me to expect my son to get sick about once a month. As keeping healthy is so very important to keep you from missing important days at work and school, I loved these great tips from Cigna!
Mid-Year Health Check-in Tips
We all strive to be smart about our spending. As healthcare costs continue to rise, here are a few things you can do to make sure your health plan is working hard for you and your family.
- PLAN. We’re often great at budgeting household expenses like our mortgage, groceries or vacations, but many of us don’t think about budgeting for healthcare expenses. The more you can anticipate upcoming costs, the more you can save while still receiving the high quality care you expect for you and your family.
- PREPARE. There are a few things that you can do now to ensure you’re prepared to make quick decisions when the time is appropriate.
- PREVENT. Taking advantage of preventative services offered by your health plan could mean the difference between life and early death.
In my family, we’ve made a big effort to plan, prepare, and prevent. Just shy of a year ago we started really researching and trying to figure out what insurances would be best for our family and set up an HSA account to be able to save up for health care expenses. Having a savings account specifically for medical needs that may arise has really helped ease worries for upcoming bills. We set aside just a little bit each month to add to the account and our funds roll over to future years and needs if we don’t end with any big expenses this year. I’ve been able to pay all my pregnancy related bills right from our HSA, too. While a Health Savings Account (HSA) may not be for everyone, it has been a solution that has worked well for our family.
You can watch helpful videos in The Health Plan Conversation video series for lots of great Health planning tips! Here’s the first episode in the series:
You can visit Cigna’s YouTube playlist to learn more by continuing on with this great video series! What steps do you take to keep your family healthy throughout the year and prepare for upcoming health care expenses?
Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cigna. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.
I feel that prevention is such an important way to health…
I learned a lot from your article~!
Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Our insurance used to carry no deductible. Now it’s $250 for 2 people or $500 for the family. My husband contributes so much money a pay period ($520 a year) and once we pay our deductible all I have to do is take those receipt payments and send them in to get our $520 back by the following March. Once we meet out deductible of course it’s 100% covered plus our copay. A few years ago I had to have an ultrasound and mammogram and they wanted my full $250 deductible upfront. I didn’t want to dump all that money on just one visit but I knew I would be getting it back in his next pay check (no taxes taken out) providing that I turned it in to make it on that check in time.
I love the Cigna program if you don’t use the money it rolls over. In our case if we don’t have $520 worth of stuff to send that qualifies for the year than the $520 he contributed in his bi weekly checks is down the drain.
Great review this is definitely something to look into, and he already contributes so much money bi weekly so it’s already budgeted thanks so much. I’ll be looking into it.
I try to take advantage of the preventative things, especially flu shots and well women care.
it’s so true about budgeting for healthcare! That’s often an aspect i don’t plan/budget for but really should!
Awesome tips. Its not fun having a sick child. If we can do things to prevent it then we surely should do do.
Thanks for these timeless tips!
Cindi
I use prevention health care during the year! I get a flu shot, I already got the TDAP vaccine again because where I live there is an epidemic. I get my yearly pap and mammogram. I believe by being preventive with my health care that I can ward off illnesses!
We have an Health Savings Account (HSA) too, and it is definitely helpful. You can never plan for every unexpected expense, but planning ahead really helps ease my anxiety.
Very sound advice. Better to be proactive on taking care of the family’s health
Great tips!