Dental insurance applies only to care provided by a dentist. It reimburses the cost of routine dental care such as cleaning and dental exams, as well as repairs such as fillings and root canals. Dental insurance is often part of a group insurance plan.

"A la carte" or "custom" plans

This type of plan generally offers flexibility in choice of coverage. You can select and modify the coverage based on what has been selected by your employer. For example, you could opt for coverage of orthodontist expenses if you have teenaged children. A few years later, you could select coverage for vision. 

Normally, you can modify your choice one a year or after a life-changing event such as a birth, marriage or death.

Your insurance premium will change based on the coverage you’ve chosen: The more you’re insured, the higher your premium.

Health accounts

A health account is an amount that an employer sets aside to reimburse its employees’ healthcare costs. For example, if your employer gives you a $500 health account, you can be reimbursed for any kind of healthcare expense up to a maximum of $500. After that, you must pay all costs out of your own pocket.

Administrative Services Only (ASO) plans

There is another type of coverage for employees: the uninsured employee benefit plan, also known as an Administrative Services Only (ASO) plan. In this case, your employer assumes the costs claimed by its employees. An insurance company is still required to administer the plan however, to avoid conflicts of interest.

Critical illness insurance provides you with a lump-sum benefit when you have been diagnosed with a specific illness, such as cancer. To receive this amount, the illness must be listed as a critical illness in your insurance contract.

Generally, you must survive for 30 days after the diagnosis in order to be entitled to the benefit.

You can use the lump-sum amount you receive from the insurer as you see fit.

You do not need to present any invoices.

For more information, read the page on critical illness insurance.

This insurance covers you if you become seriously ill and can no longer take care of yourself. This insurance is useful if you develop a chronic illness, are suffering from Alzheimer or have a serious accident. The amounts reimbursed are generally used to pay long-term care expenses in specialized care centres. They can also be used to pay for in-home care.