What happens to your health and dental benefits when you leave your job?

Whether you’re retiring after years in the workforce, stepping away from a job, or starting a business of your own, one thing these transitions have in common is that your workplace health and dental benefits won’t follow you. (Supplied/CAA North & East Ontario)

Whether you’re retiring after years in the workforce, stepping away from a job, or starting a business of your own, one thing these transitions have in common is that your workplace health and dental benefits won’t follow you. It’s an easy thing to overlook in the middle of a major life change, but the gap it leaves can be costly.

Why benefits gaps happen

For most people, workplace health and dental coverage is tied to their employment. But if you’re retiring, going self-employed, or simply moving on, that group plan typically ends when your role does, and from that point forward, things like prescription drugs, routine dental cleanings, and eye exams come out of your own pocket. Unless, of course, you have a plan in place.

Government programs exist, but they don’t fill every gap. According to CAA, 1 in 5 Canadians lack medical insurance and the consequences are real. People without coverage are more likely to skip doses, delay treatment, or put off care, which can turn manageable health issues into much larger ones down the road. There’s also the financial side: without coverage, a single unexpected health expense can throw a serious wrench in your budget.

Who should be thinking about individual coverage?

Individual health and dental coverage is worth considering for anyone who isn’t protected by a group plan, or who soon won’t be. That includes people who are:

• Retired or approaching retirement
• Self-employed or planning to go that way
• Leaving a job and losing benefits along with it
• Simply without adequate health and dental coverage

If any of those sound familiar, individual coverage is likely worth a closer look.

What individual coverage actually offers

Unlike group plans, CAA Protect’s Health and Dental plans travel with you, not your employer. It can be extended to include a spouse, children, or other dependants, and it’s designed to be flexible enough to reflect your actual needs and budget.

Most plans are built around a foundation of Extended Health Care (EHC), which covers basic healthcare expenses and vision care. From there, you can customize your plan to suit your needs, by adding specific coverage:

• Prescription drug coverage to offset the cost of medications and dispensing fees
• Optional dental coverage to reduce what you’d otherwise pay out-of-pocket for cleanings, fillings, and other dental work.
• Specialized services like nursing care, ambulance transport, wheelchairs, and other durable medical equipment

The result is a plan that’s more tailored to your life than a one-size-fits-all group option, and one that won’t disappear the next time your employment situation changes.

And for CAA Members that are also CAA Protect policyholders, the plan also includes a free will kit to help you prepare for the future, and access to Maple Health, Canada’s premier online healthcare platform for fast, convenient access to Canadian general practitioners.

How to get started

CAA Protect offers individual and family health and dental coverage for Canadians across a range of life situations, whether you’re newly retired, running your own business, or simply looking for coverage that fits your life outside of work. A licensed insurance advisor can walk you through your options and help you build a plan around what you actually need.

To book an appointment or learn more, visit caaneo.ca.