The New Canada Dental Care Plan

? The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal initiative designed to provide dental coverage to Canadian residents who lack dental benefits and have a household income under $90,000 annually. It’s important to note that this is a government benefit and not a free dental service. The CDCP aims to complement, not replace, existing dental benefits from employment, educational institutions, or private insurance plans.

The CDCP is managed by Health Canada and administered by Sun Life. Eligibility decisions and coverage details are not handled by dentists. The federal government will notify eligible individuals directly. If you haven’t received a notification by May, you might not yet be eligible. For detailed eligibility information and to verify your status, please visit the government’s dental care plan page at canada.ca/dental.

Do not postpone your dental visits while waiting for the CDCP to take effect. Continue regular check-ups to prevent dental issues. If your dentist does not participate in the CDCP, they can still treat you, but you will be responsible for costs not covered by the plan.

For more information on the Canadian Dental Care Plan and to verify your eligibility, please visit canada.ca/dental. If you have specific financial concerns or need help with payment options, do not hesitate to discuss them with us during your next visit to Bells Corners Family Dentistry.

If you already benefit from other government dental programs such as Healthy Smiles Ontario, the Ontario Disability Support Program, or the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program, and you are also eligible for the CDCP, you can apply for this plan. The benefits will be coordinated to ensure there is no overlap in coverage. The federal government is actively working with provinces and territories to streamline this process.

Eligible seniors are currently being contacted with instructions to apply via Service Canada. Dental care under the CDCP is slated to begin in May 2024. For seniors and other eligible individuals, application portals will open online progressively from May 2024 through 2025.

The CDCP covers various dental services such as cleanings, exams, x-rays, fillings, root canals, and certain surgeries, based on your dentist’s recommendation. Some services may require preauthorization. For a comprehensive list of covered services and guidelines, please refer to the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide available online.

The CDCP is not intended to replace any existing dental coverage you may have through employment, educational, or private plans. It is crucial to compare the benefits and costs of your current plan against what the CDCP offers before making any changes to your coverage.

The Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) is a separate interim measure providing tax-free payments to assist with dental expenses for children under 12 who lack private dental benefits and belong to families earning less than $90,000 a year. Eligible families can receive up to $650 per child annually for two years. Applications are accepted until June 30, 2024, for dental care received from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. For more details or to apply, visit Canada.ca/dental or contact the CRA at 1-800-715-8836. It is important to note that parents will be required to Pay up front and can seek reimbursement through the plan.

It’s possible to apply for the CDB even if your child is already covered under another government program, like Healthy Smiles Ontario. The CDB is designed to cover any out-of-pocket expenses that have not been fully reimbursed by other federal or provincial programs. This means you can still receive CDB payments for eligible expenses that exceed what is covered by other programs.