By Whitney Stidom, Vice President of Consumer Enablement, eHealth

With more than half of the year already over, it is possible the health and wealth resolutions you set in January have long been abandoned. If that’s the case, tapping into your health insurance plan now can be a smart strategy, especially to take advantage of “use-it-or-lose it” benefits before it’s too late.  

This is especially true among recent high inflation, which has caused 42% of Americans to skip or delay medical care within the last 12 months. Whether your goal is to shed unwanted weight, improve longevity or to feel better on a day-to-day basis, here are three often-overlooked benefits that may be included with your health plan: 

Benefit #1: Annual wellness exam  
Your annual wellness visit is one of the most valuable benefits your health plan offers. Yet some Americans skip this exam, even though these visits are generally covered at no additional cost under most employer-sponsored, Medicare, and Affordable Care Act plans.  Annual wellness exams can help catch potential health issues early, plus they give you a chance to work with your doctor to check current measures of health, review medications and set goals for healthy living. If you’ve been putting off your 2026 checkup, now is the time to book it.

Benefit #2: Dental, vision and hearing exams
Many people with employer-sponsored health insurance may also have dental coverage, which generally comes with two preventive cleanings per year. Likewise, vision plans often cover an annual comprehensive eye exam, which can help with the early detection of health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.  While traditional Medicare does not include routine coverage for dental, vision and hearing care, many Medicare Advantage plans do. That’s important because healthy teeth, eyes and ears all contribute to your overall well-being, especially as we grow older. For instance, routine dental exams can help prevent or treat gum disease, which is associated with an increased risk of dementia and certain types of cancer.    

Benefit #3: Wellness programs and other financial assistance
A lot of health plans offer wellness programs, which can include discounts on gym memberships or the opportunity to earn financial incentives for meeting certain daily or one-time health-related activities. With some employer-sponsored programs enabling enrollees to earn hundreds of dollars or more each year, checking to see what is available to you may be time well spent. Likewise, millions of Americans enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan may have access to additional financial assistance, such as a Flex Card or over-the-counter benefit. Under both programs, beneficiaries can access a quarterly or annual allowance to help cover a range of health-related expenses, in some cases totaling up to $800 per year depending on the plan.

To determine if any of these types of resources are available to you, call the number on your insurance card, check your insurance plan’s website or mobile app, or contact a licensed insurance agent such as eHealth.   

Whitney Stidom is vice president of consumer enablement at eHealth, an online health insurance marketplace that helps consumers navigate their health benefit decisions