Don’t Let Your Medicare Extra Benefits Sit Unused
A lot of people get their Medicare plan, put the card in their wallet, and then move on. I get it. Medicare is confusing enough when you first sign up. Once the plan starts, most people are just glad that part is done. But here’s the problem. Some Medicare plans include extra benefits that people forget to use.
Things like:
Dental
Vision
Hearing
OTC items
Fitness benefits
And if your plan includes them, you don’t want those benefits just sitting there all year doing nothing.
June Is a Good Time to Check
June is a great time for a simple Medicare check-in. We’re about halfway through the year, which makes it a good time to ask:
Am I actually using the benefits my plan may include?
A lot of people wait until the end of the year and then realize they had benefits available that they never used. That might be dental help, an eye exam, glasses, hearing benefits, OTC items, or a gym membership. Nobody wants to find out later that something was available and they missed it.
Dental Benefits
Dental is one of the big ones. Depending on your plan, you may have help with cleanings, exams, X-rays, fillings, dentures, or other dental services.
But dental benefits can have rules. You may need to use certain dentists. There may be limits. Some services may need approval. Some benefits may reset each year.
So before you need dental work, it is a good idea to know what your plan actually includes.
Vision Benefits
Vision benefits are another thing people forget about. Your plan may include an eye exam, glasses, contacts, or some type of eyewear allowance. If you have been putting off an eye exam or your glasses are scratched up, this is a good time to check what is available. Don’t wait until December and then try to rush everything at the last minute.
Hearing Benefits
Hearing benefits can also be easy to overlook. Some plans may help with hearing exams or hearing aids. But like everything else with Medicare, the details matter.
You may need to use certain providers or follow certain steps. If the TV keeps getting louder, conversations are getting harder to follow, or family members keep repeating themselves, it might be worth checking what your plan includes.
OTC Items
OTC stands for over-the-counter. This can include things like cold medicine, pain relievers, vitamins, toothpaste, first aid supplies, bandages, and other approved health items. A lot of people have an OTC benefit and never use it because they are not sure how it works.
Common questions are:
Where can I use it?
Do I have a card?
Can I order online?
Does it reload monthly or quarterly?
What items count?
Does unused money roll over?
If your plan includes an OTC benefit, don’t let it sit unused. You may be able to use it for things you are already buying.
Fitness Benefits
Some Medicare plans may also include fitness benefits. That could mean access to participating gyms, fitness centers, online workouts, or wellness programs.
You do not have to be a gym rat to use it. Maybe it is walking on a treadmill. Maybe it is using the pool. Maybe it is taking a light class. Maybe it is simply staying active a few days a week. The point is to use what is available if it helps you stay healthier.
Why People Forget
Most people are not ignoring their benefits on purpose. They forget because Medicare sends a lot of information. The card comes in. The booklet goes in a drawer.
The mail piles up. And before you know it, half the year is gone. On top of that, every plan can work a little differently. One person may use an OTC card at a store. Another person may need to order online. One dental benefit may use a network, while another works differently. That is why it helps to slow down and check your own plan.
Simple Mid-Year Medicare Check-In
Here are a few things to ask yourself:
Have I used my dental benefits this year?
Do I need an eye exam or new glasses?
Do I know if my plan has hearing benefits?
Have I used my OTC benefit?
Do I know where I can use my OTC card or allowance?
Does my plan include a fitness benefit?
Do I know who to call if I have questions?
If you do not know the answers, you are not alone.
That is exactly why I like doing these check-ins.
Don’t Let the Benefits Collect Dust
Medicare can already feel complicated. You do not need to leave benefits unused simply because nobody explained how to use them. If your plan includes dental, vision, hearing, OTC, or fitness benefits, June is a good time to check what is available. And if you are not sure where to look, send me a message.
I’m happy to help point you in the right direction.
