Canadian Dental Care Plan

Oral health is an important part of our overall health and well-being. Regular visits to an oral health professional have proven to reduce the risk of dental decay, gum disease and other serious health issues such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, we know that one third of the 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.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care for uninsured Canadian residents who have an adjusted family net income below $90,000. The CDCP will help cover a wide range of oral health care services, on the recommendation of an oral health provider, when needed.

WHO qualifies?

To qualify for the CDCP, the following criteria must be met:

• No access to dental insurance*;
• 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.

* Access to dental insurance means access to any type of dental insurance or coverage through other channels, such as:

• Through an employer or a family member’s employer benefits, including health and wellness accounts**;
• Through a pension (previous employer) or a family member’s pension benefits which includes federal, provincial and territorial government pension plans**;
• Through a professional or student organization**; or
• Purchased by yourself or by a family member or through a group plan from an insurance or benefits company.

** Canadian residents are still considered to have access to dental insurance if they choose to opt out of available benefits like these.

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.

WHEN to apply?

The CDCP is being rolled out using a phased approach over several months, starting with seniors aged 70 and above. In May 2024, applications will shift to an online portal for eligible seniors 65 and older. Persons with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under the age of 18 will be able to apply online starting June 2024. All remaining eligible Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 will be able to apply online starting in 2025.

Group	Application open
Seniors aged 87 and above	Starting December 2023
Seniors aged 77 to 86	Starting January 2024
Seniors aged 72 to 76	Starting February 2024
Seniors aged 70 to 71	Starting March 2024
Seniors aged 65 to 69	Starting May 2024
Persons with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate	Starting June 2024
Children under 18 years old	Starting June 2024
All remaining eligible Canadian residents	Starting 2025

HOW to apply?

Canadian residents who may qualify will be able to apply for the CDCP through Service Canada.

Each month, Service Canada contacts a new group of seniors, based on age. While applications remain open for those 77 years or older, in February, applications are expanding to seniors, aged 72 to 76. That means potentially eligible seniors aged 72 to 76 will receive letters inviting them to apply to the CDCP, with instructions on how to validate their eligibility and apply for the plan by phone.

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 of 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.

From December 2023 until end of April 2024, seniors who receive invitation letters may call Service Canada to apply via an automated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. When applying, they will be asked for two pieces of identification, and whether they currently have access to any type of dental benefits. The applicant will immediately be notified whether they have been successful in applying and are eligible. They will also receive a letter confirming this information.

Seniors aged 65 to 69 years and seniors who were not able to apply by phone will be able to apply online starting in May 2024, followed by persons with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under the age of 18 starting in June 2024.

Phased rollout

• To ensure a successful and smooth rollout of the CDCP for Canadian residents,Service Canada will accept applications in phases:
• Applications first opened for seniors aged 87 and above in December 2023,and are now expanding in phases by age group. Individuals in these age groups who may be eligible have started receiving letters inviting them to apply.

• Seniors aged 65 to 69, will be able to apply online starting in May 2024.
• Persons with a valid Disablility Tax Credit certificate and children under 18 will be able to apply online starting in June 2024.
• All remaining eligible Canadian residents will be able to apply online starting in 2025.
• Service Canada will share applicant information with Sun Life for the purpose of enrolment in the CDCP.

How Does It Work?

Scheduled to begin covering treatment in May 2024, the CDCP is a publicly funded dental benefit for those with an annual household income under $90,000 and no private dental insurance.

How Can I Apply for the CDCP?

Application periods are staggered between December 2023 and 2025.

As of May 2024, seniors 65+ can apply online or over the phone.

How to apply: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/apply.html

How to apply?

Eligible Canadians aged 70 and above received a letter in the mail with a personalized application code and instructions on how to apply based on the application schedule below.

Adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate, children under 18 and remaining eligible Canadian residents will be able to register online, based on the application schedule below.

HOW much is covered?

You may have a co-payment based on your adjusted family net income. A co-payment is the percentage of the CDCP fees that isn’t covered by the CDCP, and that you will have to pay directly to

• No co-payments for those below $70,000.
• 40% co-payment for those between $70,000 and $79,999.
• 60% co-payment for those between $80,000 and $89,999.

Before receiving oral health care, people covered under the CDCP should always confirm what costs, if any, will not be covered by the CDCP. People who receive services not covered by the CDCP will need to pay the full cost of these services.