On Monday, the Canadian government revealed the details of its long-anticipated Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), offering support to low and middle-income residents without private insurance. Born out of the Liberals’ confidence deal with the NDP in 2022, the CDCP provides dental care benefits directly to uninsured Canadian residents with a household income under $90,000. The plan, outlined in the government’s spring 2023 budget, allocates $13 billion over five years from 2023 to 2024 and $4.4 billion annually thereafter.
The CDCP aims to address financial barriers to accessing oral health care services for eligible Canadian residents without dental insurance. Health Minister Mark Holland emphasized the transformative nature of the plan, anticipating significant improvements in health outcomes, a reduction in the burden on the healthcare system, and increased equity in oral health care access.
Key points regarding the dental plan include:
Eligibility Criteria: To qualify for the CDCP, individuals must meet specific criteria:
- Lack access to dental insurance
- Have a household net income under $90,000
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
- Have filed a tax return for the previous year
Canadian residents who already have access to dental benefits through provincial, territorial, and federal social programs and meet the criteria remain eligible to apply.
Rollout Schedule: The dental plan will roll out in phases, starting with seniors aged 87 and over in December 2023, expanding to other age groups in subsequent months. Online applications will open for seniors aged 77 to 86 in January 2024, followed by other age groups in the coming months. Canadians with a valid disability tax credit and children under 18 can apply starting in June 2024.
Enrolled residents will receive a welcome package from Sun Life, including a member card and the coverage start date. Eligible individuals can begin accessing oral health care services as early as May 2024, with coverage not retroactively applying to services performed before the launch date.
Covered Dental Services: The CDCP covers a range of dental services, including preventive, individual, restorative, endodontic, prosthodontic, periodontal, and oral surgery services. Some services may become available only in the fall of 2024.
Costs and Co-payment: Providers must submit claims directly to Sun Life for payment, minimizing out-of-pocket expenses for plan beneficiaries. However, a co-payment system is in place, with a 40% co-payment for households with net incomes between $70,000 and $79,000 and a 60% co-payment for those between $80,000 and $89,000.
