I just received my fat packet of information on my 2010 benefits today. Even though I currently have all of my benefits through Mr. Kablog's employer, I'm always interested in the changes under this roof because you never know when the tables may turn and my company health care benefits could be more attractive (read: affordable) for my family.

Employees will pay an estimated $4,023 on average in premiums and out-of-pocket costs in 2010, up 10% from 2009, according to benefits consulting firm Hewitt Associates.

One thing I always do at open enrollment is consider how much money we've spent on health care in the past year and to try to set aside that amount in a flexible spending account. It's been my experience that health care costs tend to rise each year and a mom of three kids can always use a bunch of Band-Aids and first aid kits if we have money in our health care flexible spending account (FSA) left over.

What's that? An FSA can be used to pay for many health care costs, including over-the-counter drugs. But few workers use them for two reasons:

  1. because if you don't use the money in a given year, you lose it.
  2. The paper work has traditionally been a pain. However, many companies have streamlined the process with health spending debit cards or online filing.

Knowing how much health care you've used can also help you decide if you should opt for co-insurance, a high deductible health care plan or another flavor of care.

If it weren't for having a baby this year, we would have gone with a high deductible option because our family is relatively healthy. But this year, we ended up at the doctor more often than in year's past, which makes me grateful that we picked the Cadillac plan that was more expensive month to month, but requires much less money out of pocket. I fear that plan won't be an option soon.

Aside from health care, open enrollment is the time when you can sign up for other pre-tax benefits that help by reducing your taxable income and by paying for things with pre-tax dollars. I've been maxing out the $5,000 dependent care account for child care since my daughter was born. For more information, IRS publication 503 has the skinny.

A great online resource for benefits help is planforyourhealth.com. The site's health and baby expense calculators aren't to be missed, even though they're pretty basic. The site is also giving out free copies of "Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies."

One area where I don't go pre-tax is long-term disability insurance. By paying premiums on an after-tax basis, the portion of any benefit that you paid will not be taxable.