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Jun 27, 2024 · The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is opening in phases. Make sure you meet all 4 of the eligibility requirements before applying. Check the schedule below to find out when you can apply.
- The Canadian Dental Care Plan
Who qualifies. To qualify for the CDCP, the following...
- Do you qualify
If you meet all the eligibility criteria, you may qualify...
- The Canadian Dental Care Plan
- Backgrounder
- Who qualifies
- When applications open
- How to apply
- What is covered
- How much will be covered
- Oral health providers
- Why is this important: State of oral health care
The Government of Canada is committed to making life more affordable for Canadians. Budget 2023 outlined the Government of Canada’s plan to build a healthy future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast by investing $13 billion over five years, and $4.4 billion ongoing to implement the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Once fully implemented, up to nine million Canadian residents with an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000 who do not have dental insurance will have access to the CDCP.
December 11, 2023
Oral health is essential to Canadians’ overall health, but oral health care can be expensive. A third of people living in Canada do not have dental insurance, and, in 2022, one in four Canadians reported avoiding visiting an oral health professional because of the cost.
Poor oral health can lead to respiratory disease, diabetes complications, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, pregnancy complications, life-threatening infections, and greater mortality from all causes. It can also lead to related mental health issues, reductions in quality of life, and, in extreme cases, employment challenges, social shame, nutritional issues and isolation.
The Government of Canada is committed to making life more affordable for Canadians. Budget 2023 outlined the Government of Canada’s plan to build a healthy future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast by investing $13 billion over five years, and $4.4 billion ongoing to implement the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
Once fully implemented, the CDCP will help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care for up to nine million uninsured Canadian residents with an annual family income of less than $90,000.
To qualify for the CDCP, the following criteria must be met:
•no access to dental insuranceFootnote *;
•an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000;
•be a Canadian resident for tax purposes; and
•have filed their tax return in the previous year.
Canadian residents who have access to dental benefits through a social program offered by their province or territory and/or by the federal government will be eligible for the CDCP if they meet all the eligibility criteria.
Applications will first open for seniors aged 87 and above in December 2023, expanding in phases to those aged 77 to 86 in January 2024, followed by those aged 72 to 76 in February 2024, then those aged 70 to 71 years in March 2024.
Individuals in these age groups who may be eligible will receive letters inviting them to apply, with instructions on how to validate their eligibility and apply by telephone.
Canadian residents who may qualify will be able to apply to the CDCP through Service Canada.
Starting in December 2023, letters will be mailed to potentially eligible seniors informing them that they may qualify for the plan and inviting them to apply. This letter will include a personalized application code and instructions on how to apply.
Only those who meet the following criteria will receive a letter with instructions on how to apply:
•are 70 years old, or will be 70 years old or older by March 31, 2024;
•have an adjusted family net income less than $90,000 based on their and/or their spouse’s or common-law partner’s 2022 tax returns; and
•were a resident of Canada in 2022 for tax purposes.
To improve oral health outcomes, the CDCP will help cover the cost of various oral health care services, on the recommendations of an oral health care provider, when needed.
Services that could be covered under the CDCP include the following, with some services only becoming available in fall 2024:
•preventive services, including scaling (cleaning), polishing, sealants, and fluoride;
•diagnostic services, including examinations and x-rays;
•restorative services, including fillings;
•endodontic services, including root canal treatments;
The CDCP will help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care for Canadian residents who do not have access to dental insurance. To limit the out-of-pocket expenses for people covered under the CDCP, oral health providers who enrol as service providers in the CDCP and provide oral health care services will bill the CDCP directly for reimbursement rather than having patients seek reimbursement from Sun Life.
The CDCP will reimburse a percentage of eligible expenses at the established CDCP fee rates. A co-payment is the percentage of CDCP fees that is not covered by the CDCP, and that people covered under the CDCP will have to pay directly to the oral health provider.
The percentage of co-payments will depend on the adjusted family net income as follows:
•no co-payment for those with an adjusted annual family net income under $70,000;
•a 40% co-payment for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $70,000 and $79,999;
•a 60% co-payment for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $80,000 and $89,999.
In early 2024, oral health providers will be able to enrol, on a voluntary basis, to the CDCP as participating CDCP oral health providers directly with Sun Life. A provider awareness campaign will be launched, with the support of Sun Life, that will invite providers to enrol.
Providers who are licensed and in good standing to practise in the province or territory where the services will be given will be able to enrol in the CDCP.
Eligible oral health providers include:
•dentists;
•denturists;
•dental hygienists; and
Oral health is an important part of our overall health and well-being. Regular visits to an oral health professional can prevent and reduce many oral health care concerns. Oral health-related illnesses are currently impacting our health care system and our overall economy:
•Patients with no access to dental insurance visit emergency rooms for non-urgent dental conditions, although their issues are rarely solved by emergency care. These avoidable visits cost the health care system an estimated $1.8 billion in 2017.
•An estimated 2.26 million school days and 4.15 million working days are missed each year due to oral health concerns.
•Individuals with gum diseases are 2 to 3 times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those with healthy gums.
•Dental surgery under anaesthesia accounts for one-third of all day surgeries performed on children between ages 1 and 5 years at pediatric hospitals; many of these surgeries could have been prevented if oral health care was available early on.
Footnote *
If you meet all the eligibility criteria, you may qualify for the CDCP. If you have dental coverage through government social programs. If you have dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal government social program, you can still qualify for the CDCP.
Jun 27, 2024 · Applications for the dental plan first opened for seniors aged 87 and up starting in December 2023, expanding in phases by age group. Starting in January, seniors aged 77 to 86 could apply....
Dec 12, 2023 · WHO IS ELIGIBLE? In order to qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), you have to meet the following criteria: Have to be a Canadian resident with no access to dental...
provide dental coverage to uninsured Canadians under 18, persons with disabilities, and seniors who have an annual adjusted family income of less than $90,000. There will be no co-pays for those with an annual family income under $70,000.
Dec 11, 2023 · Applications for the dental plan will first open for seniors aged 87 and up starting in December 2023, expanding in phases by age group. People in this age bracket who may be eligible will...
