Getting the Most From Your Extras Limits
Extras policies reset their annual limits each calendar or policy year, and unused limits don't roll over — meaning a limit you didn't use last year is simply gone, not banked for this year.
Timing Big-Ticket Items
If you're due for both a dental crown and new glasses, and your policy year is about to reset, it's often worth timing one item just before the reset and one just after — effectively using two years' worth of limits within a few months, rather than exhausting one year's limit on a single item.
Preventive Dental Is Usually Uncapped or Generously Covered
Routine check-ups, cleans and X-rays are typically reimbursed at a higher percentage (sometimes 100% up to a smaller limit) than major dental work like crowns or root canals, which draw from a separate, often lower sub-limit. Two visits a year for a clean and check is one of the easiest ways to use extras cover you're already paying for.
Optical Tips
Most policies cover a new pair of glasses or contacts roughly once every 1–2 years within the annual limit — check your specific policy's rule, since claiming too early can mean you're not eligible again until the following cycle regardless of the dollar limit remaining.
Using a Preferred Provider Network
Some insurers have 'no gap' or reduced-gap dental and optical networks — using a network provider can mean a service that's only partially covered elsewhere is fully covered, or covered at a better rate, through the insurer's own network.
This page is for educational purposes and isn't personalised financial or medical advice. Premiums, rebates, thresholds and eligibility vary by insurer, policy and individual circumstances — always check the Standard Information Statement and Product Disclosure Statement before buying.