September 2023 Personal Financial Check In

Many companies offer open enrollment for health insurance and other benefits in the latter part of the year. Medicare and Marketplace open enrollments also happen during the fall months. Review your current policy and benefit options for coverage, cost, providers, and your overall satisfaction to ensure that the plan you had this year will still meet your needs in the future.

To Do: Make an informed decision when reviewing and enrolling into 2024 health insurance and benefits.

Resource: MF3189 Health Insurance Smarts: Health Insurance 102 (ksu.edu)

The month of September is a great time to review emergency preparedness steps. This month, think beyond first aid kits and weather safety by preparing financially. Preparing for financial emergencies includes having an emergency fund, reviewing insurance coverage, and having an emergency notebook with important documents and personal information.

To Do: Make or update your emergency financial notebook.

Resource: Emergency Financial First Aid Kit EFFAK Toolkit (ready.gov)

In addition to being convenient forms of payment, credit cards can also help us build credit and earn valuable rewards. It is important that you understand how you are able to earn rewards, how much those rewards are worth, and how you can redeem them.

To Do: Check your credit card reward redemption options and value.

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer and another day when there are great sales. It is the beginning of a new season, and life tends to get hectic in the fall. With four months left in the year, reassess your financial goals and take steps to achieve them before the year’s end. There are likely to be expenses this month related to delayed back-to-school items, clothes, and fees; Labor Day weekend fun; fall family photos; fall yard care; football; and holiday spending plan.

Look for the following classes and events at Classes and Events | Johnson County (k-state.edu).

Retirement Planning Today Series: October 5, 12, 19

Medicare: September14th, October 14 and 31

Medicare Open Enrollment/ SHICK:October 15 to December 7

DIY Medicare Comparison:November 8