For most employees, the new benefits elections you made in November 2023 go into effect January 1st 2024. And if you’re on Medicare, January 1st is when Medicare plans change over too. With those transitions, the benefit rules you’re used to may have changed, and you need to be aware of what that means for you.

First, you may need new insurance cards. Look for those yet in December, or maybe not until January.

Your new Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD’s) with all of the nitty gritty of your coverage, may not be available for several months. Check your HR’s website right away in January, but if they’re not there put a reminder on your calendar to keep coming back until you can get the new document. Also, keep copies of at least last year’s SPD, so you can compare the old and new version for any differences.

Obviously, any changes in coverage go into effect promptly with January 1st.

Starting January 1st, you’ll have access to your new health care flexible spending account (HCFSA) dollars, and your new dental/vision dollars if you have a limited use account for those.

Dependent Care flexible spending account dollars (DCFSA) start accruing with each paycheck of the new year, but they take time to build, and you can’t spend them before you’ve built up that account.

All of this can make needing medical care in January a bit more of a headache than usual. So if you’re already drained from the holidays, schedule what you can to be a little further out.