Is BCAA Dental Insurance Worth It? 2024 review

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Sunny Yadav updated on 27 November 2023

BCAA (British Columbia Automobile Association) has been offering roadside assistance and insurance services related to automobiles since 1913. But have you considered BCAA dental insurance?

BCAA offers comprehensive health and dental coverage at affordable prices and no waiting period services. But is it the best choice for you?

So, let's look at the various plans, pros, cons, and costs of BCAA dental insurance. Then, use our comparator to compare Canada's best dental insurance plans and get free quotes right here to see if BCAA is right for you or if there's another plan that suits you better.

BCAA Dental Insurance: 5 Key Takeaways

  1. Offers extensive coverage, including orthodontics, at affordable rates.
  2. Wide coverage, no waiting period, and efficient claims processing.
  3. Limited coverage in certain areas and no standalone dental plans.
  4. Age, gender, location, and other factors impact the cost.
  5. Submit claims online with original receipts.

Our 2024 review of BCAA dental insurance

BCAA dental insurance is a popular choice for many Canadians. Offered by the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) — a well-established and respected company — BCAA dental insurance plans are affordable and offer a wide range of benefits. 

BCAA dental insurance is not a standalone plan and is offered as a part of its health insurance, covering the cost of your dental care. Its plans cover various services, including checkups, cleanings, fillings, and more. Some plans come with coverage for orthodontics and major dental work. 

Here are some of the pros and cons of BCAA dental insurance:

Pros:

  • Offers some of the most affordable plans in Canada
  • Plans cover a wide range of dental services
  • No waiting period dental insurance
  • Discounts if you insure multiple family members
  • Fast and easy claims processing

Cons:

  • Limited coverage in some areas
  • Not available in all provinces
  • No standalone dental insurance plans

Overall, BCAA dental insurance is a good option for many Canadians. It is affordable, offers comprehensive coverage, and has a good reputation. However, make sure to be aware of the plans' limitations before you sign up. 

Comparing the cost and coverage of various plans can help you make an informed decision. You can do it right here, using our comparator. Get instant dental insurance quotes from 20+ Canadian companies. 

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What does BCAA dental insurance cover?

With BCAA, you can secure personal health insurance for just $1 per day. It offers two types of health and dental insurance plans, meeting the diverse needs of people looking for comprehensive dental coverage. 

BCAA Health and Dental Insurance

If your current private health insurance is incomplete or about to expire, you can explore BCAA’s Health and Dental Insurance to bridge the gaps left by BC's Medical Service Plan (MSP)

  • This plan is ideal for those who are self-employed or lack full protection from a private health insurance plan.
  • It’s designed to help save on both anticipated and unforeseen medical expenses that fall outside the coverage of MSP.

Good to know

For this plan, all applicants must be covered by a provincial/territorial government health care plan. It's only available in BC and Yukon.

You can choose from the following health plans:

  1. Basic Extended Health Care
  2. Enhanced Extended Health Care

Then, we have optional drug and dental plans: Drug 1, Drug 2, and Drug 3 (and Dental 1, Dental 2 and Dental 3). 

Dental 1 helps cover your eligible out-of-pocket dental costs, including 70% of expenses for basic services. Its maximums per year are:

  • Year 1: $450
  • Year 2: $550
  • Year 3+: $700

Dental 2 helps cover your eligible out-of-pocket dental costs, including 80% of expenses for basic services and 60% of expenses for specialized procedures. It combined maximums per year are:

  • Year 1: $650
  • Year 2: $700
  • Year 3+: $900

Dental 3 helps cover your eligible out-of-pocket dental costs, including up to 100% of expenses for basic services and up to 80% of expenses for specialized procedures. Its combined maximums per year are:

  • Year 1: $800
  • Year 2: $900
  • Year 3+: $1,200

This plan also covers 60% of expenses to a maximum of $750 every 3 years, also limited to the combined anniversary year maximum for major restorative (Year 2+).

FollowMe™ Health & Dental Plans

Offered through Manulife and tailored for individuals on the brink of retirement with expiring group health benefits, this plan ensures guaranteed acceptance when you apply within 90 days of your coverage ending. The best part? No medical questions are required at the time of application.

There are four types of FollowMe plans for you to choose from:

  1. FollowMe™ Health Basic: No dental coverage
  2. FollowMe™ Health Enhanced: No dental coverage
  3. FollowMe™ Health Enhanced Plus
  4. FollowMe™ Health Premiere

If you choose Enhanced Plus, you get the following dental coverage:

  • 80% of $700 in Year 1
  • $850 in Year 2
  • $1,000 in Year 3+

Health Premiere covers:

  • 80% of $800 in Year 1
  • $1,000 in Year 2
  • $1,500 in Year 3+

Good to know

It also covers major dental services at 60% commencing in Year 2 of the plan.

What is the cost of BCAA dental insurance?

BCAA dental insurance is an affordable and comprehensive option for Canadians. The cost of BCAA dental insurance varies on a lot of factors, such as your age and the coverage you choose.

Cost of BCAA’s Health and Dental Insurance

Here’s what the monthly cost would look like for a 27-year-old, male BC resident:

Plan NameMonthly Premium
Extended Health Care/Drug 1/Dental 1
$84.75
Extended Health Care/Drug 2/Dental 2
$107.05
Extended Health Care/Drug 2/Dental 3
$136.20
BCAA Health and Dental Insurance Cost

Cost of FollowMe™ Health & Dental Plans

Here’s what the cost would look like for a 27-year-old, male BC resident:

Plan NameMonthly Premium
FollowMe™ Health Basic
$81.90
FollowMe™ Health Enhanced
$108.60
FollowMe™ Health Enhanced Plus
$145.20
FollowMe™ Health Premiere
$190.50
FollowMe™ Health & Dental Plans Cost

These costs can vary based on your age and other factors. It's best to get personalized quotes and compare policies before you buy a dental plan to get a better idea. You can use our comparator and get personalized dental insurance quotes here — in minutes.

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Which factors can influence the cost of BCAA dental insurance?

The cost of BCAA dental insurance can be influenced by several factors, including:

  1. Your age: Dental insurance premiums are typically higher for older people than for younger people.
  2. Your gender: Men typically have higher dental insurance premiums than women. This is because men are more likely to have dental health problems, such as gum disease and tooth decay.
  3. Your location: Dental insurance premiums can vary depending on where you live. Premiums are typically higher in urban areas than in rural areas.
  4. Your health status: Your health status can influence the cost of dental insurance. People with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, may have higher premiums than people in good health.
  5. Your dental habits: Your dental habits can also influence the cost of dental insurance. People who smoke or drink excessive alcohol may have higher premiums than non-smokers and non-drinkers.

Here are some other factors that can affect the cost of your dental insurance:

  • The type of coverage you choose: The type of coverage you choose can also influence the cost of dental insurance. Premiums are typically higher for plans with more comprehensive coverage.
  • The deductible and coinsurance you choose: The deductible and coinsurance you choose can also influence the cost of dental insurance. A higher deductible means you will have to pay more out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. A higher coinsurance means you will have to pay a larger percentage of the cost of covered services out of pocket.
  • Any optional benefits you choose: Any optional benefits you choose can also influence the cost of dental insurance. For example, coverage for orthodontics or major dental work will typically increase your premium.

How to claim BCAA dental insurance?

You can simply submit your claim online. Just make sure you have any receipts or other pertinent materials readily available.

Submitting health and dental claims

You can submit claims for various expenses, including prescription drugs, equipment and appliances, vision care, practitioners' fees, and other medical costs. 

Here’s what you will need to submit:

  • Original receipts with your submission.
  • For equipment or appliance expenses, provide a written recommendation from the prescribing physician, including diagnosis, and attach a copy of the government plan statement of payment, if applicable.
  • If claiming an expense for vision care, the vision care supplier must complete part of the claim form and sign where indicated.

You can download the Extended Health Care Expense Form (PDF) here:

Submitting claims for eligible dental expenses

Use the downloadable form when your dentist cannot provide you with a standard Canadian Dental Association (CDA) claim form or if you prefer not to file your claim using the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system.

Download the Dental Care Expense Form (PDF) here:

Good to know

Please remember that your dentist must complete part of this claim form on your behalf. Also, you will need to create a Manulife ID if you don’t have one.

How to contact BCAA for dental insurance?

You can contact BCAA’s expert advisors at 1.888.268.2222 — Monday to Friday from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Please remember that for most ICBC policies, renewal by phone is possible; however, certain transaction types require a visit to a BCAA Service Location. If it isn’t urgent, you can fill out the online form on BCAA’s website. 

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Sunny Yadav Copywriter
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Sunny has over six years of experience curating engaging content spanning across industries. Specifically in finance, his expertise is insurance reviews and lending and investment topics.