If a health insurance rebate check arrived in your mailbox this week, how about putting it towards your health? The checks are part of the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to pay out if they don't spend a certain amount of the premiums they collected towards paying for actual care. Rather than blow the money on apps, fast food, and other ephemera, why not reinvest the money in one of these 10 body- and mind-improving endeavors? Hell, if enough of us use the money to stay healthy, maybe we'll get even bigger checks next year...


Learn more about how the "80/20" rule governing rebates works here, and find out how your insurance company stacked up here.

The average check size was $150, though in some states it was as high as $650 or $800. Either way, that's enough to do some damage. Might we suggest that you:


10. Put It In Your Health Savings Account

The easiest win of them all: just stuff it in a health savings account. Deposits aren't taxed and they can be used for deductibles, copays, and dental and vision care—just about anything related to your health. Just not the premiums themselves. Nancy Metcalf, Consumer Reports Senior Program Editor for Health says, "The nice thing is that if you don't have any health needs, funds in an HSA can stay there indefinitely, earning interest or dividends tax free the whole time." Ka-ching.

Photo by mafaldaQ .

9. Get A Gym Membership

If you're overweight, losing just 5-10% of your weight puts you at a lower risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The only way to kill the pounds is to burn more calories than you consume, period. So pay up for that gym membership you've been putting off. Or get a bulk discount yoga class card. (Just check the fine print to make sure it doesn't have weird expiration rules).


8. Get New Gear

The right tools can be just the trigger you need to making a new fitness practice stick. On the gizmo side, Shawn Tyler Weeks of 344pounds.com recommends the FitBit or a BodyMedia armband for activity and calorie tracking. On a similar approach, Lifehacker's Adam Pash is a big fan of the Withings Wi-Fi body scale. Or maybe you just want to make working out more pleasurable. Discouraged by a heavy bike? Upgrade to a lighter one. Spring for a fresh pair of running shoes. Snag some new workout pants you feel good exercising in. Find your nudge and get it.


Photo by Tybo .

7. Go To The Dentist

Don't let being part of the estimated 42% of Americans who don't have dental benefits stop you from getting your teeth checked. A little preventive care and maintenance today can save you from a costly and painful procedure down the line. Individual plans are pricey but "Costco-style" discount plans are an option. Check out Northeast Dental Plan, Brighter.com or dentalplans.com.


6. Get An Electric Toothbrush

Speaking of teeth, some research shows that electrics are better at cleaning your teeth than an "unplugged" toothbrush. Look for a rotation-oscillation electric toothbrush for the best results. The Oral-B Professional Care 1000 is a good bet that isn't overloaded with useless features.


Photo by bbaltimore .

5. Destress

Stress kills, literally, because it's "associated with every major chronic disease," says Kate Hanley of msmindbody.com. She recommends putting your rebate towards a weekend meditation retreat, which can "jumpstart a meditation practice that you can then continue on your own when you're back in the real world." Also consider massages, spa days, or paying down credit card debt—whatever it takes for you to feel calm.


4. Hire Someone To Help You

Errands giving you anxiety? Get a personal assistant for the day via a referral from a friend, or find someone through Craigslist with great references. You can also set up the to-do's as discrete tasks for hire on Zaarly or TaskRabbit.


Photo by Ali Nassiri.

3. Improve Your Home

If you're an allergy sufferer, get an anti-allergy pillow cover. Remove impurities with a solid air filter (I'm a fan of my Rabbit Air). Overwhelmed by clutter? Nullify your nemesis with a DIY version of a custom California closet.


2. Improve Yourself

Take a cooking class geared towards making healthy meals (and make sure you use good ingredients, so "consider putting your check toward a CSA where you can get fresh, local produce every week or every other week," says Amanda Chan, Huffington Post's Health News Editor). Sign up for one or two sessions with a personal trainer to give your workout a kickstart and focus, and make sure you're doing all your exercises correctly. Take an improv comedy class and watch as your social and professional life blossoms, improving your mental health. There is also that thing about laughter being the best medicine...


Photo by Clay Larsen .

1. Hire A Babysitter

Get someone to take the kids off your hands for a few hours so you can schedule a much-needed romantic outing with your partner. Or just get out of the house with some time on your own and do a few things that make you feel sane. It may just add a few minutes back onto your life expectancy.


If we all do one of these, will we really get bigger rebate checks next year? "That's kind of unknowable at this point," says Metcalf. More likely is that insurers will set premiums so they don't have to pay them out. But, she says, "even the best actuarial models don't always come out as projected, so some insurers will probably miss their MLR targets every year." Which means cash money to get some sweet sweat-resistant headphones.


Title image remixed from Port of San Diego.