Have you reached your individual or family deductible limit? If you’re over the limit then you are most likely paying 20% or less of your medical expenses. Your deductible is going to start all over again on January 1st, so this is the month to schedule any necessary medical procedures and tests such as mammograms or colonoscopies.

Are you nowhere near reaching your deductible? Then don’t spend any more money if you can help it this year. You will bear the cost of medical expenses up to the deductible, and then be subject to the same deductible again in January. So why not wait until 2010 if possible.

Do you have an annual allotment for exams such as eye, dental, mammograms, etc? If you haven’t used your yearly free (or low cost) health care, try to schedule them before the plan year runs out.

Also remember to use up your Flexible Spending Account. Money left in FSAs at the end of the year is lost to you – you can’t get it back and you can’t spend it next year (unless your employer offers a grace period of up to 2 ½ months into 2010.) So make sure you empty that account. And when signing up for next year’s 2010, put in only what you are sure you’ll spend.