Making the most of your protections this year

The benefits available to you — especially those provided through your employer — are designed to reduce financial risk, support well-being, and help you navigate life’s uncertainties. By understanding how these benefits work and using them intentionally, you can make more confident decisions and start the year on stronger footing.

Financial wellness is part of household health

When we think about health, we often focus on physical and mental well-being. But financial wellness is just as essential. Unexpected medical events, income interruptions, or unplanned emergencies can quickly derail even the most carefully planned budgets. Strong financial wellness helps households stay resilient, able to handle surprises without long-term financial harm.

That’s where benefits come in. Employer-sponsored benefits aren’t just perks; they’re tools designed to protect your income, manage risk, and support your long-term financial health. Using them wisely is one of the smartest investments you can make in yourself and your family.

Benefits that directly support financial wellness

Many benefits are specifically designed to reduce financial strain and build stability over time, including:

Primary health insurance covers essential medical care, from doctor’s visits and hospital stays to prescriptions and emergency services. It includes routine screenings and annual exams, helping catch issues early. As the main payor, this coverage is billed first and handles the majority of medical costs before any supplemental plans. This protection ensures reliable access to care, shielding you from high healthcare expenses and forming the core of your benefits package.

Protects your income if illness or injury prevents you from working.

Provides extra financial protection in addition to your primary insurance coverage, such as MASA, which protects you from out-of-pocket costs for emergency medical transport.

Other types of supplemental insurance plans include:

• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Accident insurance
• Critical illness insurance
• Hospital indemnity insurance
• Life insurance

Additional protections for your finances, assets, and identity, including pet insurance, identity theft protection, legal services plans, even home and auto insurance discounts.

Build long-term financial security through consistent saving and employer contributions.

Offer no- or low-cost financial counseling, stress management support, confidential counseling, legal guidance, and more.

Encourage healthy behaviors to reduce healthcare costs while improving overall well-being, such as gym membership reimbursements, onsite fitness centers, fitness challenges, healthy eating programs, smoking cessation programs, and more.

Help you invest in your future with tuition assistance and student loan repayment support.

Improve your work-life balance and support employees’ personal and family responsibilities, including childcare and eldercare support, public transit and parking reimbursement, employee discount programs, and paid volunteer time (VTO).

Together, these protections form a safety net — one that works best when you understand it and use it intentionally.

Knowledge is power: understand your coverage

One of the most common mistakes people make is not fully understanding their benefits until they’re in crisis — by then, it’s often too overwhelming to grasp the details. Take time early in the year to review each of your policies and protections to see what’s covered, what’s not, and how each benefit within each plan works. Knowing details like deductibles, coverage limits, and when to file claims can prevent delays, denials, and unnecessary out-of-pocket costs.

Timing matters, too. Benefits are meant to be used, not saved for “someday.” Delaying preventive care, skipping wellness programs, or hesitating to seek help may lead to bigger problems and higher costs later.

Avoid these common mistakes

Even when you understand your protections, it’s easy to fall into habits that reduce their value. Small oversights or assumptions can lead to missed opportunities, unnecessary expenses, or frustration when you need support the most. Recognizing these pitfalls early allows you to use your benefits confidently and effectively.

Schedule preventive care and wellness services early—waiting can cost time, money, and peace of mind.

Double-check coverage details with your insurer before appointments or procedures to avoid surprises, since healthcare professionals may not know what’s included in your plan.

Take full advantage of EAPs, coaching, educational tools, and wellness programs.

Keep a record of claims, visits, and benefits remaining so nothing slips through the cracks.

Using benefit portals, apps, and tracking tools can help you stay organized and make informed decisions throughout the year.

Use the support around you

You don’t have to navigate benefits alone. HR teams, benefit coaches, and educational resources are there to help answer questions and guide you. Reaching out could save you time, money, and stress.

Here at MASA, we’re ready to be there for you when you need us. Whether you have questions about your protection or need access to your membership benefits, we’re just a click or tap away through the MASA online portal and app (available in the App Store or Google Play store), or you can call our Member Services team with questions at (800) 643-9023.

Invest in your wellness this year

Start the year with confidence by making the most of your benefits. By understanding what’s available, acting promptly, and using the support offered, you protect your health while strengthening your household’s long-term financial wellness.