ToDoForYou

To Do For You

Make sure you know when and how you become eligible for your benefits at a new job.
Know how many hours you must work to receive benefits. Know when your benefits kick in, especially if you are working part-time. Part-time health benefits vary within companies and it is important to understand the extent to which you are covered.
Don't assume that the benefits will be similar to those with your previous employer and ask how many hours you need to work in order to get the coverage you need.

And you don't have health insurance, you will soon be eligible to be covered under your spouse's plan. If you both have insurance, it is more cost-effective to be covered under one plan. This will save you money that can be invested in 401(k) or IRA.
Make time to have an important talk about your financial future.
Agree on a common retirement goal and strategies to reach it, such as investing in a 401(k) or IRA.

Compare the health benefits. Aside from the standard medical and vision plans, also review additional benefits, such as dental plans, pharmacy expenses, life insurance and flexible spending accounts.
Take your comfort level into account - are you willing to switch doctors to join a different health plan?
Compare the overall costs. Ask how much the employee contribution will be, and then factor in other expenses, such as copayments for doctors' visits, deductibles and copayments and other costs for prescription drugs.

And you both have health insurance, figure out which plan is more family-friendly. You may want to consider which plan your pediatrician participates in.
Determine which plan covers well-baby visits, offers a choice of health care facilities, such as hospitals or birthing centers, and/or covers routine health care procedures for you and your infant.
Start saving for your child's college as soon as possible. While it may seem like it's a long way off, the sooner you start saving the less you have to invest.
Make sure you don't sacrifice money you should be putting in a 401(k) account for your retirement. Your child would probably rather take out a student loan than shoulder the costs of your retirement later.
Make sure your health plan gives you access to the experts you need. Ask about the coverage of child-birthing experts, counselors and specialists such as obstetricians.

Make the most of your benefits by making an appointment with your employer benefits office to make sure you know what's being offered. For example, many plans offer employee assistance programs, which can offer help with anything from stress management to finding a new apartment.
Act quickly when you want to make changes to your benefits plans. At a new job, employers usually give you 30 days to enroll for benefits.
When an important change occurs in your life, such as marriage or the birth of a child, you are also given a short amount of time to alter your plan. You don't want to miss these windows or your new baby might not have insurance coverage. Otherwise, you may only make changes during the Open Enrollment period.

Plan for Your Health