This time of year, we are bombarded with ads for diet plans, fitness memberships and whatever health and wellness fad is the “it thing” for the new year. While those things can be helpful for improving our health and wellness, without a gameplan and a thorough understanding of the preventive health screenings and benefits of your health insurance, the year can quickly slip by.
You don’t want to wake up in 2026 wondering where the year went and with your health benefits left on the table. So here is how you can take control of your health in 2025 while making the most of your health insurance benefits.
Know Your Covered Benefits
Health insurance policies can be complex, with various coverage options and limitations. It’s crucial to review your policy documents and understand what services are covered by your plan. This includes preventive care, diagnostic tests and treatments. Familiarizing yourself with your covered benefits can help you:
- Avoid unexpected medical bills
- Make informed decisions about your healthcare
- Take advantage of preventive services, such as annual wellness screenings
Prioritize Annual Wellness Screenings
Annual wellness screenings are a vital component of preventive care and something to prioritize every year. This yearly checkup is a time for you to sit down with your healthcare provider to track your health and wellness and set goals. These screenings can help identify potential health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancer, in their early stages. Early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of complications. Some common services included in annual wellness screenings are:
- Blood pressure and cholesterol checks
- Blood glucose testing
- Administering vaccinations, such as flu, pneumonia and shingles vaccines
- Ordering screenings based on your age, gender and risk factors, such as mammograms and colonoscopies
Take Advantage of Health Services with Little to No Out-of-Pocket Expense
One of the significant advantages of having health insurance is access to preventive care services, including annual wellness screenings, with little to no out-of-pocket expense. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most health insurance plans are required to cover certain preventive services without cost-sharing (meaning at no cost to the member). Missing out on these services is a choice not to take advantage of your benefits and to possibly delay important detection or care – both can be costly.
Covered benefits with little and often no out-of-pocket expense include:
- Annual wellness visits
- Vaccinations
- Cancer screenings
- Blood pressure and cholesterol checks
Develop a Gameplan
While we can’t do much about growing another year older, we can do something about growing wiser. When it comes to health screenings and health benefits, it can be overwhelming, but with a little effort, we can understand how to use those benefits to impact our health, wellness and quality of life.
“Taking the time to fully understand what services are available to you and developing a gameplan on how you can use them is one of the most impactful things you can do each year to take control of your health,” urges Leslie Moland, Florida Blue’s Senior Director of Regional Business Development.
“Letting a year slip by without working with your healthcare provider to monitor your health or get recommended screenings can have big implications, but for those with health insurance, many of the preventive services are a part of their benefit plan. All it takes to maximize those benefits is a little time and a commitment to making your long-term health a priority.”
Ask Questions
For Florida Blue members and even nonmembers, the Florida Blue Center, located at 1860 Airport Road in the Cordova Commons, is an excellent resource. There you can take advantage of free health and education classes {view their schedule of events here or see Local Pulse’s Managing Editor Elli Gentile, and her recent yoga experience} and you can even get a free health screening .
If you are unsure about Florida Blue health plan benefits, a licensed professional can answer all your questions and when you are ready, help you enroll. To meet with a professional at the Pensacola Florida Blue Center visit FloridaBlue.com/Center/Pensacola or find the professional sales agent closest to you by visiting FloridaBlue.com/Find-An-Agent.
By taking the time to understand your benefits, and use them, you can take control of your health in 2025.
**This article is sponsored by Florida Blue, a Local Pulse Pensacola health solutions partner that invests resources to ensure as many people as possible have access to high-quality, affordable, and equitable care.
We are thankful for their support of good news in the Gulf Coast.
