Does your health care plan cover orthodontics?

All Canadians receive medically necessary doctor visits, diagnostic tests, and hospital care – largely through the taxes we pay as citizens of our wonderful country. However – dental care is not covered under the free health care we receive and often has to be paid for out-of-pocket by the patient. In BC, there are a few great health care plans to choose from which can be added on to an existing health care plan, or purchased individually – but not all of these dental plans cover orthodontic care, which as many as 20 percent of Canadians end up needing within their lifetime.

The following health care plans, which are available in BC, include options for orthodontic care in Vancouver:

Pacific Blue Cross
Pacific Blue Cross’ group plan includes an option for an enhanced dental add-on. This included orthodontic coverage – for dependent children only, with benefits beginning in year 3. The lifetime maximum for orthodontic coverage under the Pacific Blue Cross plan is $1000 per dependent child.

Manulife Flexcare
Manulife offers two options that include orthodontic treatment: either their ComboPlus Enhanced plan or their Dental Plus Enhanced plan. Both plans cover orthodontics after year 3, and to a maximum of $1,250 per person, per three-year period.

BCAA
BCAA offers one add-on option to all plans called the “Dental 3” option. This option covers 60 percent of expenses in years 1 and 2, and 80 percent of expenses in all subsequent years. Anniversary year maximums are as follows: year 1 – $700, year 2 – $900, year 3 and subsequent years – $1,200 per year.

Sunlife Financial
SunLife offers orthodontic care in Surrey under their group benefit plans. They have four plans to choose from Omnident, Multident, MultidentPlus, and Flexident, which range in the balance between coverage and affordability. These plans cover orthodontic care only if there are a minimum of 10 participants in the group plan.

To avoid paying out-of-pocket for costly dental expenses such as orthodontic care, it may be useful to look ahead and cover yourself and your family through one of the many available extended dental plans in BC. That way, when the time comes for braces – you know you are covered.

Dr Wang

Dr. Wang, DDS, MSc, FRCD(C)

ORTHODONTIST

Orthodontic specialist, founder of PacificWest Dental Group. Helping people get the perfect smile since 1994!

Dr Kevin

Dr. Kevin Lee, DMD, MSc, FRCD(C)

ORTHODONTIST

Specialist in Orthodontics, UBC alumni. Love helping patients get a beautiful smile. Part-time clinical instructor at UBC. 

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