Use your dental benefits before year-end and you get care this year’s plan has already paid for: when a plan renews on January 1, the unused part of the annual maximum usually does not move into the new year. Hastings Dental Studio, at 2652 East Hastings Street in East Vancouver, has Saturday and Thursday-evening appointments to help you fit a visit in before December 31.
Check three things in your plan
- When your plan year ends. Many Canadian group plans follow the calendar year; some start again on the anniversary of the date your coverage began.
- How much of your annual maximum is left. Your insurer’s member website or app usually shows it.
- When your next checkup and cleaning are covered. Plans cover them at set intervals, such as every six, nine or twelve months.
Visits worth booking in November and December
A checkup and cleaning you are due for; a filling or crown found at your last exam; gum treatment such as scaling and root planing; and the first stage of longer treatment, such as dental implants, where this plan year’s coverage can pay for one stage and next year’s for the next. Ask us whether your treatment can be planned across the two years.
Paying for what your plan does not cover
For larger treatments, financing is available through iFinance Canada; the Financing link in our menu takes you to the application.
Hours and booking
Hastings Dental Studio is open Monday 11 am to 4 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; Thursday 11 am to 7 pm; and Saturday 9:30 am to 4 pm. Holiday hours may differ, so call to confirm. Call (604) 416-5444 or request an appointment online.
Year-end dental benefits: common questions
Does my dental plan reset on January 1?
If your plan follows the calendar year, yes: the annual maximum starts again on January 1, and in most group plans the unused part of last year’s maximum does not carry forward. If your plan year starts on your coverage anniversary, it resets on that date instead.
Is it worth getting a cleaning in December?
If your plan covers another cleaning before it resets, a December visit uses coverage you would otherwise lose and clears away tartar before the holidays.
Can treatment be split between two benefit years?
Often, yes, when the treatment is done in stages. Starting one stage before December 31 and the next after January 1 can let each plan year cover part of it. We can look at your treatment plan with you.
How can I pay for treatment my insurance does not cover?
Financing for larger treatments is available through iFinance Canada. Call (604) 416-5444 and we can talk through your options.