If you’re paying for extras cover, your dental benefits are part of what you’re paying for - yet every year, a surprising amount of those benefits go unused. Getting full value from your cover doesn’t take much: mostly a little awareness of how your policy works, and a bit of planning.
Every health fund is different. Benefit amounts, waiting periods and reset timing all vary between funds and policy levels, so treat this as a general guide and check the specifics with your own fund.
Understand what you’re working with
Most extras policies split dental cover into two categories. General dental usually covers preventive care like check-ups, cleans, X-rays and simple fillings - this is the cover most people use most often, and the one most often left unused. Major dental, where included, covers more complex treatment like crowns, root canals or dentures, usually with its own limits and longer waiting periods.
Know your reset date
Here’s the detail that catches many people out: benefits reset each year, and unused allowances generally don’t roll over. But the reset date itself varies by fund - many reset on the calendar year (1 January), some on the financial year (1 July), and others on your policy anniversary. Finding out your own fund’s reset date is the simplest way to know when to plan.
Tips to get full value from your cover
Check your remaining balance. Most funds show your remaining dental limits in their app or member portal.
Plan check-ups around your benefit year. Timing your visits sensibly within the year means both draw on that year’s allowance rather than letting it lapse.
Ask what a visit will cost with your cover. A good practice can tell you what a check-up and clean is likely to cost once your fund is applied.
Claim on the spot where you can. Practices with HICAPS can process your claim at the counter, so you only pay any gap on the day.
Think about timing for larger treatment. Depending on your limits, it may make sense to split planned treatment across two benefit years - a conversation to have with both your dentist and your fund. Never delay urgent treatment for benefits reasons.
Don’t forget the family. On a family policy, each member typically has their own benefits available, and kids’ check-ups are easy to schedule together.
Prevention is where cover pays off
There’s a neat alignment in how extras cover works: the visits it typically covers most generously, check-ups and cleans, are also the ones that help protect you from needing bigger, costlier treatment later. Small problems found early are simpler and cheaper to fix, usually while you still have benefits available to help.
Parramatta Dental Clinic is a preferred provider for NIB, CBHS, HIF, THF and Defence Health, and welcomes all major health funds with on-the-spot HICAPS claiming.
Bring your health fund details to your next visit and our team can help you understand what your visit is likely to cost.