CFO Corner Week 36: 5 Benefits to Use Before They Reset
Most of your health, vision, and dental benefits don't roll over into next year — and neither does your professional development budget. This week's CFO Corner is a quick, five-item check of what's sitting in your benefits package right now, before it resets to zero on January 1st.
The Reframe This isn't about finding new places to spend money — it's about timing the spending you were already going to do. The PT you keep meaning to schedule, the specialist referral sitting in your inbox, the dental work you've been putting off: you already decided you need this care. The only question is whether you use it now, while it's already paid for, or wait until January and pay full price for the same thing.
The myth to clear up "My benefits reset in January, so I've got time" has it backwards. These accounts don't roll over — they restart. Whatever's unused on December 31st is gone. What you actually have isn't extra time. It's a deadline.
The Five Things to Check
Deductible + out-of-pocket max. Log in and see how much you've met. If you're close, the rest of your care this year is close to free — that's your signal to book what you've been deferring.
Free preventive care. Annual physical, dental cleanings (usually two), vision exam — resets yearly, costs nothing, disappears if unused.
Vision & dental allowances. Often a fixed annual dollar amount for glasses, contacts, or dental work that doesn't carry into next year.
Wellness & perk stipends. Gym reimbursement, mental-health/EAP sessions, wellness credits — usually capped per year and reset to zero.
Professional development funds. An annual L&D budget for courses, certifications, or conferences that vanishes December 31st. Pair this one with your brag list — every course or certification you complete with this fund is a line item for your next salary conversation or promotion case. (Haven't started one? Our episode on researching your salary number is the place to begin.)
Why September Appointments book out. A dentist visit booked in September can happen within two weeks; the same call in November gets you into January. That's why the deductible check comes first on this list — it needs the most lead time of anything here. The smaller items (cleanings, vision exam, wellness credit) can be knocked out in an afternoon in December if it comes to that. The deductible move can't wait that long.
Looking ahead Open enrollment is coming up next. While you're in your portal checking what you used this year, keep a mental note of what worked and what didn't — that's exactly what we'll build on when enrollment decisions come around.
