Why Canadians Need Critical Illness Insurance

June 1, 2020/0 Comments/in Canadian Health Tips /by David Tompkins

Learn Why Canadians Need Critical Illness Insurance

Surviving serious medical conditions is not easy, and the path to recovery can be costly. Critical illness insurance is a new type of insurance where you will get a one-time lump sum payment if you have been diagnosed with a serious condition. This payment may also be tax-free. The best part about this benefit is that you get to decide how you want to spend the money. In this article, we will explore why Canadians need critical illness insurance.

How Does Dental Coverage Works for Canadians

May 29, 2020/0 Comments/in Dental Insurance, Canadian Health Tips /by David Tompkins

Learn How does Dental Coverage Works for Canadian Residents

It’s no secret that your dental hygiene has an impact on your overall wellbeing. Health Canada states poor oral hygiene can cause health problems such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Hence, visiting your dentist twice a year will contribute to optimum oral health. But not many can afford it. Read more

Prescription Medications Covered Under Canadian Health Plans

May 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Canadian Health Tips, Dental Insurance /by David Tompkins

Prescription Medications Under Canadian Health Plans

Medications are a very big part of total health spending in Canada and many Canadians rely upon their prescriptions to manage their health. This detailed article looks at prescribed medications that Canadian health plans often include. It also talks about the medications that these health plans do not cover. Here’s what you need to know about prescription medications under Canadian Health Plans.

Top 10 Common Dental Procedures for Canadians

May 5, 2020/0 Comments/in Dental Insurance, Canadian Health Tips /by David Tompkins

Learn About the Top Ten Common Dental Procedures for Canadians

Cleaning your teeth and gums healthy is a lifelong commitment. No one is immune to dental problems. Regular dental checkups and appointments with your dentist for professional cleanups are the best thing one can do to keep dental problems at bay.

While some of the procedures are straightforward, others are a bit complicated and more involved. The information listed below will help you understand the many procedures and treatments available. Here are the top 10 dental procedures and their benefits.

1. Bonding

One of the standard dental procedures is bonding. For teeth that are uneven in shape, chipped, fractured, or spaced out, dentists resort to bonding to make them look even and better. It is done by mixing composite resin into a paste and applying it to the disfigured tooth. Several layers of resin are applied to the problematic tooth. After applying each layer, it is hardened under UV laser or light. Once set enough, the tooth is then shaped and polished for the final natural and smooth finish. This dental procedure is also used to make older teeth look younger.

2. Veneers

Veneers are used to repair chipped, decayed, and stained teeth. Thin but durable pieces of porcelain are made to bond to the teeth. Veneers are also used to close gaps between irregular teeth or even crowded or overlapping teeth. Many people opt for veneers instead of crowns. During this procedure, the use of a local anesthetic is common. The final touch includes slightly grounding the tooth enamel.

3. Crowns

Also known as a cap, crowns are used to cover the damaged part of decayed, broken, badly stained, or unshaped teeth. They protect the affected tooth from further damage. Crowns can be made of acrylic, metal, porcelain, or porcelain bonded to metal.

Dentists usually use porcelain crowns for the front teeth because they look more like natural teeth, while porcelain bonded to metal are used as crowns on molars and premolars. Because metal is durable, the all-metal crowns are used for the back teeth.

The dentists freeze the tooth to be crowned with anesthesia and then file it down for the crown to fit over it. For this, the person must visit the dentist for a couple of sittings. Till the crown is ready, a temporary cap is fitted over the tooth. Crowns are made by taking an impression of the teeth and gums so that the crown mimics the natural tooth. On the next sitting, the crown is then cemented onto the tooth.

4. Braces

One of the most common dental procedures is braces. When teeth are not correctly aligned, they can cause bite-related problems, such as underbite or overbite, that may, at times, lead to mouth ulcers or blisters. In such a case, braces are applied to put gentle pressure on the misaligned teeth and force them into their correct position. Braces can either be the fixed type or ones that can be removed.

5. Bridges

Bridges are used to restore severely damaged teeth to their former self. Bridges are false teeth that consist of two crowns. They are anchored in place by the neighboring teeth. The crown covers both the nearby teeth as well as the false one in the middle.

6. Dentures

Dentures are used as prosthetic devices. A denture can be partial or full, and full dentures are usually referred to as ‘false teeth.’

7. Fillings

Cavities in the teeth are usually treated by filling them. These fillings can be of different types, and it is the patient who decides what kind of a filling they want to opt. Restorative materials are used to repair damaged teeth.

8. Root Canal Treatment

Extraction is not the only way to treat affected or injured teeth. Patients with abscessed or wounded teeth usually undergo root canal treatment. This procedure is carried out by either a dentist or an endodontist.

Dentists drill the infected tooth and clean the infected tissues. The hole is then filled and sealed. This simple procedure not only saves the tooth but also prevents other teeth from malalignment. If not treated, it could lead to jaw problems and difficulty eating. A root canal treatment also prevents the patient from opting for an artificial tooth.

9. Teeth Whitening

Compared to most dental procedures, teeth whitening is pretty common. The obsession of Canadians for a brighter and whiter smile has led to a wide range of teeth whitening options to hit the dental market. Though natural teeth are never entirely white, the demand for procedures of teeth whitening has shot up to an extent where dentists cannot ignore it.

Usually, the darkening of teeth occurs with age. Still, staining of teeth can also be a result of smoking, drinking tea and coffee, consuming drugs like tetracycline, eating certain berries, etc. The typical teeth whitening options available include in-office and at-home bleaching. Both use peroxide-based bleaching agents.

10. Sealants

To stop decay-causing bacteria from invading and attacking healthy teeth, dentists often use sealants to block that space. Sealants are usually applied to teeth present at the back of the mouth. It is the surface of these molars and premolars that get denuded and so have to be sealed.

It is only your dentist who has the expertise and training to provide you a proper diagnosis of your oral health conditions. There are a variety of cosmetic options available that you can opt for in addition to maintaining a good home care dental routine. Follow the advice of your dentist and create a habit of regular cleaning and dental care for optimum oral health.

Important Note

As always, before venturing into any new dental procedures, you must be covered. Most international health insurance provides dental coverage as an option. It will come in handy, especially if you’re abroad and knowing dental procedures can be costly, getting adequately covered saves you the hassle.

10 Reasons Why Canadians Need Extended Health Insurance

April 25, 2020/0 Comments/in Canadian Health Tips, Health Insurance /by David Tompkins

Learn Why Canadian Residents Should Buy Extended Health Insurance

As you may know, each province in Canada offers it’s residents access to universal healthcare coverage for little or no cost as the plans are funded by provincial income &/or payroll taxes. Each province provides a wide variety of comprehensive coverage for all permanent residents and citizens of Canada who meet their respective eligibility requirements. The Canadian provincial medical plans provide access to doctors, specialists, scans and x-rays, mental health care, hospitals and outpatient exams and procedures. We will provide a more detailed discussion of what most provincial plans cover, but for this article, we will provide 10 reasons why Canadians should buy an extended healthcare plan:

1. The Provinces Don’t Cover All Health Expenses

While provincial governments have to abide by the Canadian Health Act and provide reasonable access to health services without charge, there are still a lot of health services that are not covered. Most provinces in Canada will provide limited or no prescription drug coverage, physio, private hospital rooms and much more.

2. You are Not Covered by Your Employer-based Extended Health Plan

Many employers in Canada will provide their employees access to their group insurance plan, which will provide a variety of insurance, including extended healthcare and dental. If you are retired, a student, self-employed, a contractor or your employer simply doesn’t provide a health plan, you should make sure you cover the health expenses not covered by the provincial government.

3. You Have Retired From Work

When it comes time for retirement, it is highly probable that your health benefits from work will discontinue, unless you work for the government or a company with a retirement benefit plan, which is becoming very rare. As you know, with age comes deteriorating health, and the need for health insurance is even more important than when you were younger. The LINK plan from Green Shield is a great choice if you are losing your group benefits plan in Canada.

4. Prescription Drug Costs in Canada can be Very Costly

You may think that because we live in Canada, prescription costs are low – they are compared to the USA, but drug costs can still be very expensive in Canada. Biologic drugs, for example, which are becoming very common, can easily run into the tens of thousands per year.

5. You Travel Often Outside of Canada

Provinces in Canada will either provide no coverage to people travelling outside of Canada or next to no coverage. If you travel to the USA or elsewhere in the world, an emergency illness or injury can cost many hundreds of thousands. The press is full of news articles about Canadians who have travelled abroad and have incurred huge expenses not covered by their respective principal plans. While you can buy travel medical insurance through this website, many private health insurance plans for Canadians will include some multi-trip travel medical for emergency medical expenses outside your home province.

6. Vision Care and Prescription Eyewear Expenses Add-up

Yes, your provincial government will not cover vision exams and glasses, contacts and other vision correction devices. That is why many Canadians will buy an extended health insurance plan to cover at least some of these costs.

7. You Have Become a Contractor or Self-Employed

Many Canadians are taking advantage of the freedom of working for themselves as a contractor or self-employed worker. This can come with some significant tax benefits, but often means that you are now responsible for your own extended healthcare.

8. You Have Lost your Job

Unfortunately, in times of economic disruption, a lot of Canadians are losing their jobs either temporarily or permanently. While your employer might provide some continuation of health insurance, this may not last longer than a few months and medical expenses can really add up. So it makes sense to get an individual health plan to cover you and your family.

9. Protects You from Financial Ruin

As noted above, healthcare costs not covered by provincial medical plans can really add up in Canada. In order to protect your financial future, it makes sense to have some extended health insurance in place to cover unexpected costs. While you may be healthy now, that can change in an instant.

10. Peace of Mind

Yes, having health insurance in Canada can provide you with a lot of peace of mind. This can help make you feel less stressed as well.

So, if you want to get some extended health insurance coverage in Canada in effect, obtain a quote today and put your mind at ease. If you have any questions on the coverage, please contact us to learn more.