Canada is known for its universal health care that’s accessible to all Canadians. However, routine dental care is not covered under provincial health care plans.
Unfortunately, dental care is very expensive, and many Canadians cannot afford it. Right now, about 9 million Canadians do not have access to routine dental care due to financial constraints.
To break down this barrier, the federal government has announced a new program known as the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) that will help low-income Canadians access regular dental care needed to maintain optimal oral health.
What Is The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?
The CDCP is an insurance-based program that is designed to improve access to dental care for eligible Canadians and alleviate the financial burden associated with this type of service.
The federal government recently announced the $13-billion insurance plan that will begin covering basic dentistry expenses in 2024. Coverage will be phased in over time, with benefits paid out starting sometime in mid-2024.
Applications will open in phases, beginning with some seniors and children under the age of 18. By 2025, the program will expand to all low to middle-income Canadians.
The CDCP will replace the current Canada Dental Benefit program that has been supplementing dental costs for families with children under 12 over the past year.
What’s Covered Under The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?
The CDCP covers the following dental services:
- Preventive care, including cleaning, sealants, and fluoride
- Diagnostic care, including dental exams and X-rays
- Restorative care, including fillings
- Endodontic care, including root canals
- Prosthodontic care, including dentures
- Periodontal care, including deep cleaning
- Oral surgery, including tooth extractions
How Much Is Covered Under The CDCP?
Dental patients will not pay the full cost of dental care at their appointments under the CDCP. Instead, dental health providers will enroll in the CDCP and submit claims directly to Sun Life for payment. The CDCP will then reimburse oral health care providers a percentage of eligible expenses.
If an eligible Canadian covered under the plan has a co-payment, the oral health provider must be paid directly for services provided. The co-payment amount is based on adjusted family net income.
| Adjusted Net Family Income | CDCP Coverage | Amount You Cover |
| Lower than $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000 – $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000 – $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
It’s important to verify what dental care costs are not covered under the CDCP plan before undergoing a treatment or procedure to avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
| Note: A co-payment involves you and the CDCP covering a certain percentage of the cost. For fees that are not covered by the CDCP, you will have to pay the oral health provider directly. |
Who Is Eligible For The CDCP?
To be eligible for the CDCP, you must meet specific requirements, including the following:
- Be a Canadian resident.
- Filed your income tax return in the previous year.
- Not have dental insurance, whether through an employer, your pension, or a private plan.
- Have an adjusted family after-tax income of under $90,000.
When Can You Access The Canadian Dental Care Plan?
As mentioned, Canadians who qualify will be able to access the plan over the next few months, according to age. If you access oral care before your CDCP coverage start date, you won’t be covered.
As such, be sure to check this schedule to understand when you can start accessing oral health care under the CDCP.
- Seniors aged 87 years and up: December 2023
- Seniors aged 77 to 86: January 2024
- Seniors aged 72 to 76: February 2024
- Seniors aged 70 to 71: March 2024
- Seniors aged 65 to 69: May 2024
- Children under 18: June 2024
- Persons with a Disability Tax Credit certificate: June 2024
- All remaining eligible Canadians: sometime in 2025
Following successful application and enrollment in the program, eligible Canadians can begin to receive oral health care as soon as May 2024.
How Does It Work?
If you’re eligible for the CDCP, you’ll receive a letter in the mail that will include an invitation to apply through Service Canada, a personalized application code, and instructions on how to apply. The first set of applications will be processed and accepted through an online portal starting in May 2024 for applicable age groups.
Enrollment Confirmation
Sun Life is an insurance provider that will oversee the CDCP on behalf of the Canadian government. Following your application, Sun Life will confirm your eligibility for the program and enroll you. You’ll then receive a package from Sun Life that will include your member card and coverage start date.
Make An Appointment
The welcome package you receive from Sun Life will provide details about the date your coverage starts. You should not make an appointment with a dentist until your respective start date arrives. Dental care received before the program start date will not be reimbursed.
Before booking an appointment, make sure to ask if the oral health provider has enrolled in the CDCP.
How Do You Find An Oral Health Care Provider?
As noted, you’ll need to see an oral health care provider who has enrolled in the CDCP program to get reimbursed under the plan. To find a provider, you can reach out to Sun Life. Otherwise, you may be able to find more information on this page when provider enrollment opens.
The Difference Between The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) vs. The Canada Dental Benefit
The Canada Dental Benefit is an interim program designed to help reduce the cost of dental care for children under the age of 12 whose families earn under $90,000 per year and don’t have private dental insurance. Under this program, a payment of $260 to $650 is available for each eligible child.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), on the other hand, will be available to eligible Canadians of all ages, starting with Canadians in older age ranges, and eventually opening up to younger groups by 2025.
Are There Provincial Dental Programs?
In addition to the federal government’s CDCP plan, individual provinces also have dental programs that are meant to increase access to dental care for Canadians who would otherwise be unable to afford it.
Ontario
The Healthy Smiles Ontario program is a free dental program for eligible children up to age 17. The program covers routine dental check-ups, preventive care, and dental treatment.
Quebec
Low-income Quebec residents receiving Social Assistance or who are participating in the Social Solidarity Program may receive free dental care. Eligible patients must present their claim slips to their dentist to avoid these fees.
Alberta
Alberta Health Services provides public health dental clinics to eligible residents of Alberta. In these clinics, dentists provide dental treatment services at a reduced fee to eligible low-income individuals or families without access to dental insurance.
British Columbia
Residents of BC who receive income assistance or disability assistance may be eligible for basic dental care at no cost. This includes up to $1,000 over two calendar years for dental services such as preventative care, extractions, and dentures.
Final Thoughts
If you can’t afford the cost of dental care or private dental insurance, the new CDCP program may help. Just be sure to wait until the application and enrollment date opens for your age group. Keep an eye out for a letter in the mail if you’re considered to be potentially eligible for the plan.
