Spring Cleaning Your Benefits

By Mike Fish, April 2012

The first sign of warm weather means it’s time for me to take my mountain bike out of storage. For others, spring is a time to dig out summer clothes or get the lawn and garden ready for summer’s heat. While you’re spring cleaning, consider dusting off your benefits.

If you're like most Americans, you review your benefits only once a year during open enrollment. So, you may need a little help. For example, our 2011 benefits study, in which 1,000 full-time U.S. workers were surveyed, found only 25 percent completely understood disability insurance – a common benefit offered at the workplace.

To get a better grasp on your benefits, follow these tips:

• Organize your benefits closet. If you needed your benefits information in a hurry, could you find it? Whether it’s in a brochure in your filing cabinet or posted on your employer’s intranet, make sure it’s at your fingertips.
• Freshen up your personal data. When your life changes, your benefit needs can, too. If you’ve experienced any major life changes, such as buying a new house, marriage or divorce, your beneficiary designations may need an edit. If your family has grown, it’s not only time to review your medical insurance, but an opportunity to further explore life insurance options. Check with your company’s HR department to see what life changes make you eligible to update your benefits selections.
• Don’t let perks slip through the cracks. When reviewing your benefits, look for services you can use now. For instance, funeral planning and will preparation are offered along with The Hartford’s group life insurance. You might be surprised at how much time and money you can save. 
• Get assistance on your next trip. Travel assistance, which is another service offered with The Hartford’s group life insurance, can help you determine passport, visa, and immunization requirements before a trip and with emergency medical assistance coordination during a trip. 
• Polish up your knowledge. The Hartford’s MyTomorrow can walk you through some commonly misunderstood benefits. You can check it out any time, not just benefits enrollment time, by visiting www.thehartford.com/MyTomorrow

Spring forward with confidence. The more you know about your benefits choices, the more secure you can feel.

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