As the year comes to an end, many people focus on holiday plans, family gatherings, and preparing for the new year. But there’s one more task that often gets overlooked and it has the power to save you money, reduce stress, and support your long-term wellbeing: reviewing and maximizing your insurance benefits before they reset. For clients of Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), this period is especially important, because year-end planning can help ensure you receive the therapy, assessments, or support you need while using the insurance benefits you’ve already paid for.
Understanding how your insurance plan works, what benefits you still have access to, and how RMPS services fit into that coverage can make a meaningful difference for you and your family. This guide walks you through exactly how to make the most of your insurance benefits before the year closes, so you don’t leave valuable coverage unused.
Why the End of the Year Matters
Most insurance plans operate on a yearly cycle. This means deductibles, visit limits, and out-of-pocket maximums typically reset on January 1. If you’ve been paying toward your deductible throughout the year, you may be closer to full coverage than you realize. Your out-of-pocket costs for therapy, counselling, and assessments may drop significantly. Some services may even be covered at 100%.
If you wait until next year to schedule care, you may have missed out on funds that could have been used for therapy or assessment. That’s why the end of the year is one of the most cost-effective times to access mental health services.
Understanding Your Insurance Benefits
Before you can take full advantage of your coverage, it helps to understand how extended health insurance typically works in Canada. Rather than relying heavily on deductibles, most Canadian plans offer coverage for psychological services through an annual maximum amount, often combined with a percentage of reimbursement.
For example, your plan may cover a set dollar amount per year (such as $1,000 for psychological services), reimburse a percentage of each session (such as 80%), or include a per-visit cap. As the end of the year approaches, it’s important to check how much of this annual coverage remains, since unused amounts usually do not carry over into the next calendar year.
Your out-of-pocket maximum is the highest amount you will be required to pay over the course of the year. After you hit this number, your insurance typically covers approved services in full. This makes year-end an ideal time to complete evaluations or increase the frequency of therapy if this will support your health goals.
Most plans also include in-network vs. out-of-network distinctions. RMPS accepts a wide variety of insurance plans (depending on provider), and choosing an in-network clinician usually reduces your share of the cost. It’s always a good idea to confirm that your preferred RMPS provider is recognized by your insurance plan to avoid surprise charges.
Mental Health Coverage: What Many Clients Don’t Realize
Mental health care is covered more widely than ever before, and many people have benefits they never use. Insurance providers often cover services such as:
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Child or teen counselling
- Psychoeducational or ADHD assessments
- Consultations for parents
Because these benefits reset each year, unused sessions or allowances do not carry over. Clients frequently discover in December that they had more coverage than they realized and miss out on services that could have supported their family’s wellbeing.
At RMPS, we provide a full spectrum of psychological support for children, teens, and adults. Whether you are seeking therapy, an ADHD evaluation, behavioural support, or a comprehensive assessment for learning differences, year-end is the perfect time to schedule these services.
Making the Most of Your Remaining Benefits
A thoughtful year-end insurance review doesn’t need to be complicated. Begin by pulling up your benefits statement or logging into your insurance portal. Check how much of your allocated insured amounts have been used.
If you have benefits remaining, consider any mental health needs you’ve been postponing. Have you been meaning to schedule an ADHD assessment for your child? Would you benefit from resuming therapy before the new year stressors kick in? Has your teen been struggling in school and could use support from a trained counsellor? These final months of the year may offer an ideal opportunity.
Many Canadians also have access to Health Spending Accounts, which can often be used toward psychological services. These accounts are especially important to review at year-end, as unused funds may expire. Using remaining Health Spending Account balances before the calendar year ends can help reduce out-of-pocket costs for care.
Why Now Is a Great Time for Assessments
Psychological and psychoeducational assessments are among the most underused insurance-covered services. Evaluations such as ADHD testing, learning disability assessments, giftedness evaluations, and neurodevelopmental screenings can provide vital insights into how you or your child thinks, learns, and processes the world.
These assessments often involve multiple steps: an initial consultation, testing sessions, scoring, and a feedback appointment. Scheduling before year-end allows you to take advantage of any remaining coverage that would otherwise be lost while getting results in time to guide planning for school, work, or family adjustments in the coming year.
RMPS specializes in assessments for all ages, including children, teens, and adults. For families seeking clarity, guidance, or support, this type of evaluation can be life-changing. And when insurance helps cover the cost, it becomes even more accessible.
Therapy at Year-End: A Powerful Way to Reset
Therapy is not only a tool for crisis, it is a resource for growth, balance, and self-awareness. The end of the year naturally brings reflection, stress, and transitions. Whether you want to process the year, prepare for upcoming changes, or support a child facing academic or emotional challenges, therapy can make entering the new year feel more grounded.
Many clients schedule additional sessions in November or December to maximize their benefits while addressing meaningful goals. Some find that even a few sessions of family therapy or parent consultation can dramatically improve household dynamics during the busiest season of the year.
RMPS Services You Can Use Before Year-End
Rocky Mountain Psychological Services provides comprehensive mental health support that aligns with a wide range of insurance plans. Our services include:
- Therapy and counselling for children, teens, and adults
- Family therapy and parent consultation
- Psychoeducational, ADHD, and neurodevelopmental assessments
- Therapy for emotional regulation, anxiety, school difficulties, and behavioural concerns
- Support for neurodiverse children, teens, and adults
Because RMPS offers “wrap-around” services, many families appreciate that all care from consultation to assessment to therapy can be completed within one practice. This also simplifies insurance coordination and scheduling.
How to Avoid Missing Out on Benefits
Even with good intentions, many people reach the end of the year without using their coverage. Common reasons include confusion about plan details, assumptions that therapy is not covered, or simply forgetting to schedule appointments during a busy time of year. The good news is that these challenges are easily overcome.
One of the simplest steps you can take is to review your extended health benefits or contact your insurance provider directly. Ask how much of your annual coverage for psychological services remains, what percentage is reimbursed, and whether there are any per-session limits. Having this clarity makes it much easier to plan your care before the year ends. If your deductible has already been met, or you are close to meeting it, therapy or assessment costs may be significantly lower before the year ends. Having this clarity makes it much easier to plan your care and avoid unnecessary expenses in the new year.
RMPS does not offer direct billing. Clients pay for services at the time of their appointment and receive a detailed digital receipt. These receipts can be easily submitted to most insurance providers, often through an online portal or mobile app. In many cases, reimbursements are processed quickly and deposited directly into the client’s bank account, making the process straightforward and convenient.
Plan for the Year Ahead While Finishing the Current One Strong
If you discover limitations or frustrations with your current plan, the end of the year is also when many people review their insurance options for the year ahead. Understanding how much of your psychological services you used this year, and how your coverage applied, can help you choose a plan that better supports your family’s mental health needs moving forward.
A Year-End Checklist to Get Started
To make things easier, here is a simple checklist you can use today:
- Review your insurance benefits online or through your provider
- Check how much funding for psychological services remains and percentage covered
- Confirm any per-session limits or annual maximums under your plan
- Schedule appointments now to avoid holiday or year-end booking delays
- Take advantage of any available FSA or HSA funds
- Reach out to RMPS with questions or to plan next steps
Closing Note
Your mental health is one of the most valuable investments you can make in yourself and your family. By reviewing your insurance benefits before they reset, you’re not only saving money, you’re ensuring you receive the support, clarity, and care you deserve. Whether you’ve been considering therapy, planning an assessment, or simply wanting to prioritize mental wellness, the end of the year offers a powerful opportunity.
At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, we are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals, families, children, and teens. If you’re ready to make the most of your insurance benefits and take an important step toward a healthier new year, we’re here to help.
