It’s hard to believe, but we’re already halfway through 2022. Now is a good time to check in with your health and wellness benefits from work to make sure you’re on the right track. For example, have you completed your annual physical? What about your dental checkup? Staying current on important exams and medications is just one of the keys to maintaining good health. See how many items you can check off this midyear checklist.

Midyear Benefits Checklist

• Complete preventive care exams. Preventive care exams, such as physicals, colonoscopies, mammograms, dental checkups and vision exams are crucial to the early detection of more serious conditions. Most medical and dental plans cover preventive care at 100% when you use in-network providers, and vision exams are generally subject to a small copay.
• Use your FSA funds. Don’t let your flexible spending account (FSA) funds go to waste. You can use the money in your FSA to pay for eligible expenses, such as copays, deductible amounts and other expenses not typically covered by your insurance. Generally, you have until December 31 to spend your funds, although some workplaces let you carry over a certain amount to the following year. Visit your FSA administrator’s website for a full list of eligible expenses.  Did you know…  if you are covered under a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), your FSA is a limited-purpose account. This means it can only be used to pay for eligible dental and vision expenses. However, if your employer allows it, after meeting $1,400 of your HDHP deductible, your limited-purpose FSA can be used as a full-purpose FSA for medical, prescription drug, dental and vision expenses.
• Earn your wellness benefit. If you’re enrolled in accident, critical illness or hospital indemnity insurance, you may be able to earn up to $75 for completing a preventive care exam. Many times, these wellness credits are available to each person covered by the plan, so you and your spouse or domestic partner (and sometimes children) could each get a $75 check in the mail. Contact your insurer for details.
• Review your health care expenses. Keeping tabs on how much you’ve spent so far on health care in 2022 is a great way to evaluate whether your current plans are right for you. For example, are you paying a high monthly medical premium for a low-deductible plan, but rarely seeking care? If so, maybe next year consider a medical plan with higher deductible that offers a lower monthly premium.
• Refill important medications. If you rely on a prescription medication daily to treat a health condition, you know the importance of not waiting until you run out to request a refill. Take time to do a quick sweep of your medicine cabinet to see if you need to request refills and to throw away expired medications.
• Submit HSA reimbursement claims. If you have a health savings account (HSA) and paid for an eligible expense out of pocket this year, be sure submit your expense for reimbursement. You can submit claims and reimburse yourself on your HSA administrator’s website or app.
• Participate in your work’s wellness program. Not all workplaces offer wellness programs, but if you have access to one, don’t lose out on its benefits. These programs can inform you about good nutrition, prompt you to exercise more and give you tips on caring for your mental health, social circles and even finances. Many times you can even earn prizes for participating, such as $100-$300 per year in gift cards.

It’s that time of year we all typically clean closets, attics, garages and other storage spaces. But why don’t we do the same thing for our minds? Whether you have a daily stressor that makes life difficult or are carrying some emotional baggage you want to toss, there are tools to help.

• Meditation – sometimes we need a bit of peace and quiet. Meditation has a proven positive effect on mental clarity. Download a meditation app to help take your mind to a calm and relaxing place. Some meditation apps available on the App Store® or Google Play™ are Headspace, Calm, and Unplug.*
• Yoga ­– stretching for as little as 10 minutes a day can relieve anxiety, improve concentration and provide a sense of peace.
• Walking – a quick brisk walk can increase your breathing and help clear your mind.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – if your company provides an EAP program, take advantage. The EAP can help you take care of everyday activities and provide advice for everything from finding day care to connecting with a financial advisor.
• Online Therapy Apps – therapy has never been more accessible. You can choose from a great variety of apps to connect with a therapist or counselor instantly. Some therapy apps available on the App Store or Google Play are Betterhelp, ReGain, and Cerebral.*

* The cost of some apps may be covered by your medical plan. Check with your provider to see what apps are covered.

1. Enjoy some dark chocolate-covered strawberries.

Why? This classic Valentine’s Day treat looks great, tastes even better, and is packed with vitamins and minerals that are good for you:
• Dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) has flavonoids, antioxidants, iron, copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium.
• Strawberries have Vitamin C, manganese, folate, potassium, and fiber.

2. Get peppy with a post-work café au lait to make it through a longer-than-usual Monday night.

Why? It’s a delicious, low-key homage to the City of Love and Valentine’s Day 2022 is a Monday. All you need to mix in a beautiful mug are:
• Equal parts French press or brewed coffee and hot milk.
• Raw sugar to taste.

3. Show physical affection.

Why? A hug, kiss or handholding from someone you love or care about is a surefire way to get a cuddle hormone (oxytocin) boost and make the day better. If you’re on your own today, try a hot shower or bath to relax your muscles.

4. Commit to being healthy in 2022.

Why? The Lunar New Year was only two weeks ago. Schedule no-cost preventive care appointments for yourself and encourage loved ones to do the same. These include a no-cost annual physical and dental and vision checkups.

5. Relax with a Headspace meditation session.

Why? Even three to five minutes can be enough to transition from a hectic commute to a fun Monday night (or a fun Monday night to bedtime).

6. Watch something fun or romantic on Netflix.

Why? A cozy Monday never hurt anybody. Here are some ideas on what to catch tonight:
• Some episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender — This cartoon series has adventure, jokes galore, friendship, romance, and heart.
• Atlantics — This moving 2019 film brings to life an epic love story that’ll be hard to forget.

7. Make a good-times short video with pictures of you and your friends or special someone.

Why? It worked great for Ben Affleck as a Valentine’s Day gift for J.Lo.

Usually this is the time of year those with a health care flexible spending account (FSA) rush to the doctor’s office or pharmacy to spend the last of their remaining funds. After all, FSAs are “Use it or Lose it” accounts. But, thanks to COVID-related legislation, you may have more time to spend your health care FSA.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act passed by Congress gives employers the option to allow employees to carry over the full amount of their unused health care FSA funds to 2022. This means if you have an FSA, there’s a good chance you don’t have to make a last-minute dash to spend your used funds by December 31. Take action by checking your FSA account balance, then ask your employer if they opted into the FSA carryover.

If your employer chose not to offer the carryover and you still have funds remaining in your account, don’t worry. There are a ton of ways you can spend your balance. In addition to deductible and copay amounts, you can use your funds to pay for a variety of medical supplies and products, such as first-aid kits, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, sunscreen and more. Check out FSAstore.com for more ideas.