With the holidays fast approaching, you likely have a lengthy to-do list. Between buying presents, planning family dinners, and putting up decorations, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is making an appointment with the doctor or dentist. However, December is the perfect time to take advantage of your health insurance benefits.

You pay into your insurance regularly, whether you use it or not. Don’t let your investment go to waste. Your deductible is reset at the end of each year. So, if you’ve already met it for this year, this is a great incentive to take care of your health care needs—your insurer will be chipping in more now than they will be in January, once you start working away at your deductible again.

Many insurance plans also have annual maximums, particularly for visits to the dentist. If you need any work, from root canals to fillings, and have funds left in your plan, seize the day. Again, the plan will reset for the New Year—and you can never know what lies ahead. If you wait until 2018 and then find yourself needing a lot of work done, you might meet your maximum sooner than you’d like.

Finally, a note on flexible spending accounts: if you have an FSA insurance plan, remember that your account balance is funded with pre-tax dollars. This means you can reduce taxable income when next year’s tax season rolls around—and pay fewer taxes as a result. FSA benefits do not carry over and any money left in the FSA account by year’s end will be lost.

Don’t delay this December; take care of your medical and dental clinic appointments now. This not only helps you financially, but it’s also good common sense to stick to routine health checks. You can also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with entering a new year with a clean bill of health.

Need a dentist to see you this December? Pay a visit to Anchorage Dental Center. From routine teeth cleanings to dentures, this family dentistry practice can take care of an array of needs. Whatever you turn to them for, you’ll enjoy compassionate and gentle care. You can get an overview of their services online. For an appointment, call the Alaska dentist’s office directly at (907) 278-2521.