Benefits That Deliver Discounts

Looking for a deal on a gym membership? Maybe a price break on some glasses, or discounted teeth whitening? Perhaps you’d like to save a few bucks on athletic apparel or even on races and events? Look no further than your health benefits.

It’s true: Many benefit plans come packaged with discounts from a wide range of health-related products and services. The problem is, many of them are overlooked by plan participants. Why? Providers usually don’t make a big deal about them and employers are usually more concerned about whether you’re getting your annual physical than whether you’re getting discounted yoga pants.

Still, you can get great deals on a wide range of goods and services. The following is a sampling of discounts available through benefit providers:

  • Nutrition and diet programs
  • Glasses
  • Hearing aids
  • Teeth whitening, sonic toothbrushes, and water jet flossers
  • Home blood pressure monitors
  • Gyms, fitness coaches, and exercise classes
  • Athletic apparel and equipment
  • Athletic races and events
  • Spas, acupuncture, and massage therapy
  • Hair restoration
  • LASIK
  • Weight loss programs and surgery
  • Breast pumps
  • Durable medical equipment

Discounts vary between benefit plans, and some might depend on the exact type of coverage you have. However, you likely have access to discounts you don’t even know about.

So, how do you get in on these deals? For starters, take a look at the benefits information you got when you first signed up. You might have overlooked coupons, links, or even lists of deals. If you can’t find that information, log in to your benefits website and look for a page that might be labeled “Discounts” or “Member Benefits.” (These pages are sometimes hard to find; they might be included under another heading, like “Plan Details” or a general “Health” headline.)

Still can’t track them down? Touch base with your HR team, or contact your benefits provider by calling the number on the back of your membership card. For some discounts, you’ll need to download a coupon or form, but you probably can access some of them simply by showing your membership card. Then you can start getting in on savings opportunities you didn’t even know you had.

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