Since provincial health insurance plans do not provide coverage for routine dental care (with a few exceptions for children and low-income individuals), Canadian residents must either pay out of pocket or purchase a dental insurance plan that provides the coverage they need. But there are a lot of misunderstandings surrounding dental insurance.

If you are interested in purchasing coverage, make sure you separate fact from fiction. Here are a few common misconceptions about dental insurance we’d like to clear up.

You don’t need dental insurance if you have never had a cavity.

Even if you’ve never had any oral health problems, it may still make sense to purchase dental insurance. No matter how diligently you care for your teeth and gums at home, there’s no substitute for regular trips to the dentist. Visiting a dental professional on a routine basis can help prevent problems from occurring and identify and resolve small problems before they become larger ones.

If you wait until you are experiencing a problem to purchase a Canada Dental Insurance Plan, you may not be able to get the coverage you need, leaving you to pay for the entire cost of any necessary treatment. Having said that, obtaining dental insurance for a pre-existing condition may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.

It’s hard to qualify for dental insurance coverage.

Obtaining dental insurance coverage in Canada doesn’t have to be complicated. There are many plans available that offer guaranteed acceptance, which means you will qualify for coverage regardless of your dental history, as long as you meet the necessary eligibility criteria. For the most part, these plans are only available to those who have come off a group benefits plan in the last 60 days.

If you have lost coverage through your work or are about to lose benefits due to a job loss or retirement, it’s in your best interest to explore your dental coverage options as soon as possible.

Dental insurance is too expensive.

You may think that dental insurance is too costly to make getting a policy worth it. Keep in mind that without proper coverage, you will be responsible for paying for all of your routine dental care out of your own pocket. Purchasing a plan that provides the protection you need may cost more up front, but it could end up saving you money in the future by paying for the costs of your dental care.

It’s true that regular cleaning appointments may be less than your annual insurance premium. However, when you factor in x-rays, fillings, and treatments for any conditions that are discovered during your routine exam, the value of dental coverage quickly becomes apparent.

Dental insurance covers everything.

One mistake people make is thinking that once they get dental insurance, it will cover any service or treatment they need, but that’s not necessarily true. Some plans have waiting periods that require you to wait a certain amount of time before you can begin using the benefits provided by the plan. Also, there may be some services that are only partially covered or not covered at all, regardless of how long you’ve had your policy.

An Insurance Broker Can Help You Decide

It’s important to carefully review the coverage details of a policy before purchasing it, to ensure you get the protection you need. The trick is making sure you understand the details of the plans well enough to make a comparison between the different coverage options. In this case, an insurance broker is your best bet to ensure your decision is an informed one.

Licensed insurance brokers work on behalf of their clients to help interpret the benefits and drawbacks of each insurance carrier’s available coverage options. Brokers are bound by a code of ethics that protects your interests, not those of the insurance companies.

Be sure to get the dental insurance facts you need to know before purchasing a policy. We can help! Contact us today to get started on finding the right dental insurance coverage for your needs.