Year-End Health Checklist: Three Things to Review Before Your Benefits Reset
Medically reviewed by Michele Eggers, supervisor quality health integration-clinical at Network Health
12/4/2025
December hits fast. One moment you’re trick-or-treating with the kids and the next you’re shoveling snow and planning for the holidays. But tucked in between all of that is something many people forget about – your health benefits.
No matter who your health plan is with, most benefits reset on January 1. That means the things you haven’t used this year, like no-cost preventive visits, certain screenings or perks you didn’t even know you had, won’t carry over. Because the end of the year tends to get busy, now is the best time to check a few important items off your list. We’ll show you three areas that deserve a quick look before the calendar flips to the new year.
Preventive Care: Use the No-Cost Care Covered Under Your Plan
Preventive care isn’t just a box to check. It’s the part of your plan built to help you stay healthy and catch problems early, long before they turn into more complex or costly concerns.
What does this include? Well, that depend on your health plan, but for many plans it includes the following.
- Your annual wellness exam
- A flu shot
- Certain screenings, like blood pressure, cholesterol and more
If you haven’t scheduled your yearly visit, that’s a great place to start. Clinics can get busy at the start of the year, so try to get in before the new year if you can.
Of course, preventive care goes beyond the usual suspects. Depending on your plan, you might also have access to these services.
- Wellness or health coaching
- Additional lab work covered under preventive care
- Mental health check-ins
[Read up on preventive steps and screenings that can keep you healthy]
Prescriptions and Pharmacy: Navigating Holiday Delays
Even if your health stays steady through the holidays, December can complicate the simple things, like picking up a prescription. Pharmacies can sometimes run on reduced hours during the holidays, winter weather can slow down medication delivery and holiday travel can throw wrench in just about anything.
There are a few things to check now that can prevent a frustrating scramble later. To start with, make sure your current prescriptions are up to date. If you’re already due for a refill, don’t wait until the week of Christmas to request it. Planning ahead even by a few days can make a big difference.
It might also be worth seeing if 90-day supplies are available. Your health plan may allow you to switch to 90-day fills for certain medications. This can be convenient for you and helps you to ensure you don’t run out during the busy holiday season or while traveling. Ask your personal doctor about this when you visit them.
Hidden or Underused Benefits: You Might Have More Benefits Than You Know
These aren’t necessarily benefits you use every day, but they can be extremely useful. Simply put, your health plan might offer benefits you aren’t even aware of, and the busy, high-stress holiday season can be a great time to use them. Here are some things to look for.
- 24/7 nurse line: This is a super helpful resource when kids come down with a winter illness or when you just feel a little sick after eating too many Christmas cookies.
- Virtual visits: You don’t have to brave the icy roads if your plan offers virtual visits.
- Travel coverage: Useful if you’re leaving Wisconsin for the holidays.
- Programs for chronic conditions: If you have an ongoing condition, you may be eligible for certain extra benefits.
Why This Matters Before the End of the Year
A quick year-end review isn’t about adding more tasks to your plate. It’s about clearing the way for a smoother, healthier start to the new year. It’s worth taking a few minutes.
As we said, most benefits will reset on January 1 for most plans. If you don’t use them now, they’re gone. Plus, scheduling can get difficult in January as clinics fill up fast with people rushing to restart routines. Pharmacies can also get busy around the holidays, and between that and winter weather, filling your prescription may not be as easy as it always is.
Think of it as closing out your health “to-dos” the same way you’d close out a project at work. Review what’s available, use what’s valuable and start the next year on solid ground.
