Budgeting for Baby
Health benefits, wills, life insurance and other child-related costs
Oh baby … the expenses to have that little one can add up big. One of the most obvious — diapers — can cost over $1,200 a year! But there are more costs to think about, like health benefits,... read more
Happy Anniversary: It's Time for a Health Plan Check
Tips for the newly married about health insurance, pet insurance and more
In the blink of an eye, your first year (or two or three) of marriage go by. You may not have found time to review how your health plan is working for you as a couple. These tips can help you start.... read more
Newlyweds, the Clock Is Ticking
Don’t miss your 30-day window to choose benefits
Once the "I dos" are done, your next big step should be heading out the door for your honeymoon. Not choosing your benefits. ... read more
Stretch Your Dollars: How to Save Money with Health Benefits
In today's economy people are cutting costs everywhere they can. They are clipping more coupons and taking fewer vacations. What many people don't know is that their health benefits can also save them... read more
Keeping Up with Your Health and Financial Records
Why organizing your paper trail can save you time and money
Is your huge pile of paperwork putting the Leaning Tower of Pisa to shame? Now’s the time to make a clean sweep. When you put your health and financial records in order, you can save time, money … and... read more
Flexible Spending Accounts: Use It or Lose It
For many people participating in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with a grace period, March 15th marks the deadline to incur expenses and use dollars set aside in an FSA. After that time, any... read more
14 Reasons You May Need a Financial Planner
Consumers often mistakenly believe that financial planners are mainly investment advisors, but the fact is that genuine financial planners provide a broad range of financial advice for a broad range... read more
How to Choose the Right Financial Planner
Whether stung by the declining stock market, facing a financial crisis in your life or just wanting to organize your financial affairs, you may need professional financial planning advice. But how do... read more
Protect Your Health during Natural Disasters
Tips to help you prepare for Mother Nature
Picture this: Natural disaster strikes — and you are hurt, or have to flee your home. Do you have the health benefits you need? Would you know how to use them? And do you have the health records your... read more
Splitting Benefits after Divorce
Tips to help your coverage stand on its own
You're living apart from your spouse. It's a chllenge. But it's the right time to make sure your health and financial benefits can also stand on their... read more
Your Benefits when You're Newly Widowed
How to handle health plans, HSAs, life insurance and more
When you lose your spouse, planning ahead may be the last thing you want to do. But taking stock of your health and financial benefits is one of the first things you should do. These tips can help you... read more
Top 3 Things You Should Know about Pet Insurance for Your Dog or Cat
As Americans cut back on spending in these tough times, surveys find that many are not willing to reduce what they spend on their... read more
How to Save Money with Your Health Benefits
Make these money-saving choices at open enrollment
If you want to save money, have you looked at your health plan? There are lots of ways it can help you save. In fact, reviewing your health plan each year is a major part of smart budgeting. Just like... read more
Empty Nesters
Taking a Second Look at Your Benefit Plan
With the kids off to college, life seems a little different these days. During this period full of conflicting emotions, taking time to review your financial plan might seem like the last thing on... read more
Study Up on Back-to-School Health
College comes with a laundry list of expenses. Tuition, books, and housing can add up quickly, but with all the new college costs, purchasing health insurance is probably last on your list, if at all.... read more
(Benefits) Decision 2012: Top 10 Tips for Open Enrollment
While you may define your job as how you receive a paycheck, most of us have additional “jobs” outside of work. You might serve as the chef, schedule coordinator, and entertainment director for... read more
4 Ways to Ace Open Enrollment
Use this site: Changes in your life mean changes to your benefits. With PlanForYourHealth.com, you can make smart benefits decisions for exactly where you are in life.... read more
Choosing Health Benefits
Remember, health benefits can greatly impact your overall financial health. Choosing health benefits can be a complex process, but planning well can make a big difference. And in most cases your... read more
Your Open Enrollment Checklist
Tips to easily choose your health benefits
It's that time of the year again: Open enrollment. It's your once-a-year chance to make choices and changes to your benefits plan. Are you ready? This checklist can help you prepare. ... read more
Review and Renew Your Health Benefits
Open enrollment is your once-a-year chance
It’s likely been a year since you thought about your health benefits. Take a fresh look! Your life changes. And your health needs change. Now’s the perfect time to review your benefits options. With... read more
What You Can Do as a Health Care Consumer
You've selected a plan that's right for you, now make the most of your options. Gaining popularity, consumer-directed or consumer choice health plans are a relatively new type of health plan designed... read more
Don't Let Open Enrollment Stump You this Year
New "Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies" Guide Helps You Navigate Your Choices
This fall, you're probably navigating a number of things — from attending your children's sports and school events to planning for the upcoming holidays. With so much going on, you may not be thinking... read more
What Does It Mean to be a Health Care Consumer?
For the first time since people traded chickens for house calls, Americans are focusing on how they use and pay for their health care.
No matter what you think about health care reform – love it, hate it, couldn't care less – one thing is certain. It has brought to light the fact that health care has never worked like other... read more
FSA, HSA, HRA: What Does It All Mean?
Making sense and making the most of these health plans
If you're "benefits-savvy" and are participating in a consumer-directed health plan, you may need a few pointers. These plans, which usually combine an underlying health plan, like a Preferred... read more
Giving Your Health Benefits a Checkup
A national survey found that the majority of women (59%) spend less than 2 hours learning about their health insurance options.... read more
Health Care Options after Retirement
What you need to know about Medicare
You spend most of your life working, setting an alarm each morning, living by deadlines and hopefully saving enough for retirement. As you approach retirement, it is important to consider how this... read more
Live Well, Save Money
Sound too good to be true? Here's the secret.
We all love sales and discounts. What if you could get a 30% discount on your health care costs? How about 50% or 70%? ... read more
The Power of an Hour: Planning Next Year's Health Benefits in 60 Minutes or Less
There’s a lot you can do to better your health in an hour. You can take a yoga class. Make a healthy meal. Go to the dentist for a teeth cleaning. Get a massage. Keeping your health benefits in order... read more
Track Spending and Usage for Next Year
It's important to keep track of your premium and out-of-pocket costs, in order to adjust your benefits plan for the following year. If you're aware of how much you can afford, you can save even more... read more
Re-thinking Benefits when You're Laid Off
Health and financial benefits decisions when you're downsized
When you've been laid off or downsized, your health needs keep going strong. But your health benefits don't. Do you know how to cover your or your family's health without an employer plan? Here's what... read more
Take a Look at Individual Plans
The dire economy has people worried. People are losing their jobs - and their health coverage. Most U.S. workers receive health benefits through their employers, so they associate health insurance as... read more
Juggling Expenses and Making Ends Meet
Young adults entering the workforce are faced with a juggling act of searching for jobs and calculating living expenses while trying to factor health benefits into the equation. A national survey... read more
Ranking Your Health Care Benefits Priorities
Looking beyond standard benefits
With consumers playing an increasing role in personalizing their health care benefits package, it is important to be aware of additional options employers may offer. Other than the basic health... read more
Switching Jobs
Picking the best offer – Tips you can use
Switching jobs is an important decision. Be sure to make it for the right reasons. According to a 2006 survey, the average person born in the later years of the baby boom held 10.5 jobs before the age... read more
Making the Most of the Interview Process
Job interviews can be stressful. With people typically spending 40-50 hours a week at their current job, preparation goes a long way in assuring that you will find the right fit for you. Think of an... read more
How Much Are Your Benefits Worth
As companies compete to maintain a strong employee base, human resource (HR) departments nationwide are searching for the right incentives to attract the cream of the crop. A healthy benefits package... read more
Single in the City
5 things every single woman should know about her health benefits
With so many items on the shopping list — including those hot new shoes you just saw — it can be tough to live on a budget. Add to that things like fitness classes, gym memberships and other... read more
High Five to Your Health: Add 5 Servings of Fruit and Vegetables to Your Diet
Getting five servings a day of fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to prevent cancer, heart disease and stroke. Here's how to achieve this healthy goal.... read more
Why Physical Activity and Exercise Are Important
- The relationship between physical activity and exercise
- How your body responds to physical activity and exercise
- The benefits of physical activity and exercise
Screenings for Women
Test/Vaccine | How Often |
Blood Pressure | Every 2 years - 18 years of age and older |
Body Mass Index (BMI) | Periodically - 18 years of age and older |
Cholesterol | Every 5 years - men 35 years of age and older; adult |
Screenings for Men
Procedure | Ages 18-39 | Ages 40-49 | Ages 50-64 | Ages 65+ |
Every 3-5 years | Every 1-2 years | Yearly | Yearly | |
At every visit (or at least every 3-5 years) | At every visit (or at |
Take Action to Live a Healthy Life
Tips for eating right and staying active
It’s important to be prepared for your doctor's appointment and get the answers to your questions. But, your work doesn’t stop there. Eating right and getting (or staying) active are the first steps... read more