The Government of Canada has announced some details of the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) which is designed to help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care.
To qualify for the CDCP, the following criteria must be met:
have filed their tax return in the previous year
an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000
no access to dental care
be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
The program will be rolled out in a phased approach over the coming months, starting with seniors. Beginning in December 2023, letters will start to be mailed to potentially eligible seniors informing them they may qualify for the plan and inviting them to apply. This letter will include a personalized application code and instructions on how to apply over the phone. Please refer to the poster for an application schedule.
Services that could be covered under the CDCP include the following, with some services only becoming available in fall 2024:
preventive services, including scaling (cleaning), polishing, sealants, and fluoride
diagnostic services, including examinations and x-rays
restorative services, including fillings
endodontic services, including root canal treatments
prosthodontic services, including complete and partial removable dentures
periodontal services, including deep scaling
oral surgery services, including extractions
Prepare for the application
· File your taxes to ensure you are eligible for the program.
Make sure your mailing address is up to date with both the Canada Revenue Agency and Service Canada.
Do not expect reimbursement for any dental work you receive before your application has been approved which is likely not until May 2024 for people 85 and over.
For more information
Canadian Dental Care Program Website – https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.htmlNews Release – https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2023/12/making-dental-care-more-affordable-in-canada.html