CANADIAN DENTAL CARE PLAN
Information based on canada.ca website as of February 5, 2024
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help ease financial barriers to accessing oral healthcare for eligible Canadian residents who:
- Have an annual adjusted family net income of less than 90,000 and
- Don’t have access to dental insurance.
Applications have started in phases starting with seniors.
As dental professionals we have received information about CDCP at the same time as the general public.There is information we KNOW about CDCP and information we DON’T KNOW about CDCP. We hope to clear up some of the unknowns about the plan in this post.
You can find more information about CDCP at www.canada.ca.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CDCP
Who is eligible?
All of the following criteria MUST be met to qualify:
- No access to employer/pension-sponsored or private dental plans. Annual adjusted family net income under 90,000.
- Canadian resident for tax purposes.
- Filed your tax return in the previous year.
People with access to other provincial social programs who meet the above criteria will be able to apply. It is NOT intended to replace existing benefits offered through employer/pension or private pans.
When can you apply? and When can you start using your CDCP Benefits?
Service Canada will accept CDCP applications in phases.
| Age Group | Eligible to Apply | When Can You Use Your CDCP Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Seniors 87+ years | December 2023 Will receive a letter inviting to apply |
May 2024 |
| Seniors 77 – 86 years | January 2024 Will receive a letter inviting to apply |
Unknown |
| Seniors 72 76 years | February 2024 Will receive a letter inviting to apply |
Unknown |
| Seniors 70 – 71 years | March 2024 Will receive a letter inviting to apply |
Unknown |
| Seniors 65 – 69 years | May 2024 Can apply online |
Unknown |
| Adults with Disability tax credit and children under 18 years old | June 2024 Can apply online |
Unknown |
| 18 – 64 years | 2025 Can apply online |
Unknown |
How much will be covered?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan will have a separate set of fees that will not be the same as the provincial fee guide provided by the BCDA (BC Dental Association).The CDCP will reimburse a percentage of eligible expenses based on their own fee guide. This means that people covered under the CDCP may have a co-payment based on their eligible coverage and the difference between the CDCP fee schedule and the provincial fee schedule. A co-payment is the percentage of the CDCP fees that is not covered and will need to be paid directly to the oral health provider.
Before receiving oral health care, patients will be provided an estimate for any costs that won’t be covered and what you will be expected to pay.
| Adjusted Family Income | How Much Will CDCP Cover? | How Much Will You Have To Pay? |
|---|---|---|
| Lower than 70,000 | 100% of eligible oral health care service costs will be covered at the CDCP established fees. | The fee difference between the CDCP fee and the BC provincial fee guide |
| Between 70,000 and 79,999 | 60% of eligible oral health care service costs will be covered at the CDCP established fees. | The fee difference between the 60% of the CDCP fee and the BC provincial fee guide |
| Between 80,000 and 89,999 | 40% of eligible oral health care service costs will be covered at the CDCP established fees. | The fee difference between 40% the CDCP fee and the BC provincial fee guide |
What will be covered?
The CDCP will help cover the cost of various oral health care services that keep your teeth and gums healthy. Examples of what “could” be covered is listed on the canada.ca website but these services have not been confirmed or finalized. Some services may not be covered until the fall of 2024. Not enough information is available of the eligible services to list them here.
Can you visit your existing dentist and be covered by CDCP?
Oral health care providers will have to register directly with Sun Life to participate in the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Oral health providers include:
- Dentists
- Denturists
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Specialists
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT CDCP
- The CDCP fee guide
- The services that will be covered under the CDCP
- When people under the age of 87 years old can start using their CDCP coverage once they have been approved.
- What “access to dental insurance” means.
- If you have the opportunity to purchase dental benefits through your company or retirement package but decline, are you eligible for CDCP?
- When oral health care professionals can sign up to participate in CDCP.
We are thrilled to have the Canadian government recognize the vital role that oral health has in a person’s overall health and wellness.
At this point, there has not been enough information provided to us, your dentist, to make an informed decision regarding our participation in the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Once we are provided with definitive information we will be able to make a decision about our participation.
For any further information please visit the canada.ca website.
