Health Fund benefits: Use them or lose them before Jan 1 2024

Dr Leila Haywood

25 years of preventive dental treatment experience

The end of the calendar year usually means making the most out of taking advantage of dental benefits in case they expire on January 1 2024. Health funds that reset on January 1st include HCF, Medibank, BUPA and NIB.

Regular dental checks and professional cleanings prevent more serious dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease, and even tooth loss, and addressing dental issues early on can save costly and time consuming treatments.

Use dental extras or lose them

Using health fund benefits before the end of the calendar year is a way to avoid losing any unused coverage benefits. Many health funds have annual limits on the amount you can claim for dental services, and any unused benefits may not roll over into the next financial year. That means if your health fund annual limits expire on January 1 2024 and you haven’t used your dental benefits then, you may lose them.

It is important to check your policy details or speak to your health fund directly about your level of dental extras cover, with most health funds covering basic dental services such as checks, cleanings, and fillings, but coverage for more complex procedures such as root canals or orthodontics usually varies according to the level of major dental cover.

Make the most of your coveR

Understanding dental treatments that are covered and health fund benefits may assist in planning your dental treatment. Feel welcome to chat to the friendly team at Brisbane Smile Boutique Dental Practice to get a quote and item numbers, so you can get in touch with your health fund to check your level of cover and benefits more complex dental procedures.  Our practice also has a direct quote facility where we are able to swipe your health fund card and contact your health fund to ask for an immediate coverage quote.

If you are unsure if your health fund resets in the financial or calendar year, there are simple ways to check, or you can get in touch with your provider and review your policy inclusions at the same time to make sure you are using the most of your dental benefits to keep on top of your preventive dental care here at Brisbane Smile Boutique.