As the year draws to a close and the silly season approaches, many of us simply forget about our health fund. It may be time for you to review your fund and look at any unused dental care benefits before they are reset.
Here at Coastal Dental Care, we want to ensure you are getting the best bang for your buck with your cover. Many health funds now offer apps for your mobile phone so that you can check for any outstanding benefits on the go. Alternatively, you can directly contact your health fund provider for further details.
If you have any benefits left or simply need to book an appointment for the holiday season, you can contact us online here.
A number of check-ups each year are generally included in your health fund cover. Given the various levels of health care funds, your benefits will vary.
Why don’t dental extras roll over?
Most health insurance funds reset their extras on January 01, which means any unclaimed benefits will be lost. Coastal Dental Care has listed when private health funds reset their benefits for you.
In addition to dental care, other extras benefits include some of the following:
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Chiropractic
- Counselling
- Medical devices
- Optical
- Acupuncture
- Osteopathy
- Speech Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Dietary
There are only a few funds, for example Police Health and Emergency Services – that allow benefits to roll over.
If you haven’t been to the dentist this year and have unclaimed benefits, we encourage you to contact Coastal Dental Care today.
How to use your extra benefits
Most reputable health funds will cover majority of dental procedures. There is usually an exception with some cosmetic procedures, including teeth whitening.
It is important to remember that the level of cover varies by policy and insurer.
Generally, private health funds divide dental cover into two categories – General Dental/Major Dental.
Fortunately, your default health fund plan should cover most general dental procedures.
These include:
- General check-up and clean
- Scaling
- Dental consultation
- Full oral examination
- Minor fillings
- Fluoride treatments
- Dental X-Rays
As part of your extras cover, Major Dental includes:
- Root canal procedure
- Complex fillings
- Tooth extractions
- Crown placement
- Orthodontics
- Dental bridges
- Dental implants
Child Dental Benefits Schedule
The Australian Government developed the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) through Medicare. It gives eligible children between the ages of two and seventeen access to $1,095 in basic dental services over a two-year period. For further information on the CDBS, you can read about it here.
Health fund providers
Coastal Dental Care works with a number of valued and trusted health care funds. To ensure your nearest Coastal Dental Care practice is a preferred provider of your health fund, please check online here.
Visit Coastal Dental Care Today
At this time of year, you don’t want to get stuck on Christmas Day or any other public holidays without access to a dentist. Coastal Dental Care recommends booking an appointment while you still can to ensure your oral health needs are covered!
Here at Coastal Dental Care, we understand that maintaining your oral health is a lifelong commitment. Our team of dedicated dentists, oral health therapists and oral hygienists are the experts when it comes to your oral health.
It is generally recommended to visit your dental professional for a preventative dental visit at 6-month intervals. If you have private health fund cover, these regular check-ups will be covered.
When you visit a Coastal Dental Care practice your dentist will discuss your regular dental hygiene routine and the frequency of dental cleans required.
If you follow the appropriate at-home oral hygiene routine and visit the dentist regularly, you will have a greater chance of preventing dental problems. This in turn, will help you maintain your natural teeth for life.
Coastal Dental Care has several practices across the Gold Coast and for your convenience, you can easily book an appointment online.
