Smart Benefits: Remind Employees to Use it or Lose It

Monday, October 28, 2019

Rob Calise, GoLocalWorcester Business/Health Expert

Rob Calise

With just two months before the end of the calendar year, now is the time for workers to utilize healthcare benefits that may otherwise be lost. To help your employees get the most from the plans you offer, be sure to communicate about opportunities they have to use their coverage today.

Deductibles: If your health plan has a calendar year deductible, take the time to remind employees to check their deductible amounts now. If they’ve already met their deductible, encourage them to schedule any tests, procedures, or appointments before the end of 2019 in order to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
FSAs: If you offer Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), depending on the arrangement, you should use this time to remind employees to schedule services before the end of the year and submit expenses by December 31 unless your plan has a grace period or allows participants to roll over up to $500 to the next year. To help employees determine what’s covered, make available a list of expenses that are eligible for reimbursement.
Annual Maximums: Plans for non-essential health benefits like dental care may have an annual cap, or a maximum coverage amount for the year. If you offer a policy with a limit, let employees know that the next couple of months is a good time to have any costly procedures done like root canals or crowns if they still have funds available.

Rob Calise is the Managing Director, Employee Benefits of The Hilb Group of New England, where he helps clients control the costs of employee benefits by focusing on consumer-driven strategies and on how to best utilize the tax savings tools the government provides. Rob serves as Chairman of the Board of United Benefit Advisors, and is a board member of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI Broker Advisory Board, United HealthCare of New England Broker Advisory Board and Rhode Island Business Healthcare Advisors Council. He is also a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), American Health Insurance Association (AHIA) and the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), as well as various human resource associations. Rob is a graduate of Bryant University with a BS in Finance