Canadian Government Dental Care Plan Simplified 

At our dental office, Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski Dental, we have had a number of patients asking about the government Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) that has recently come out. As there has been confusion on how to apply and who is eligible, I posted the Frequently Asked Questions below with files from the ODA to simplify it for those needing more information. 

The CDCP is intended for households with income of less than $90,000 a year and YOU MUST APPLY. Once approved, you will be covered through Sunlife and will receive a policy and certificate number that you present to your dental office. Depending on your income status different people are covered at different percentages and yearly maximums. You must also apply with the government every year.

The enrolment dates for 70 years old and older have been released and dental care could begin for some people as early as May 2024.

For EMPLOYERS: If you provide dental benefits to your employees, including providing free dental care for them and/or their families (this applies to dental offices) the employer must check the new boxes when filling out the 2023 T4’s, otherwise there is a $100 fine per T4 if not completed. The reason the government wants to know this is because that is how they determine who is eligible at what rate. If an employee receives dental benefits from an employer they may not be eligible even if the household income is under $90,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) as posted by the ODA

What is the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal government program that is intended to provide coverage for Canadian residents who do not have dental benefits and have a household income of less than $90,000 a year.

Dental care under the CDCP is expected to start in May 2024. The coverage date will be different for each person. Patients will be required to make a co-payment (that is, pay for a portion of their dental care under the CDCP) depending on their adjusted family net income, as follows:

• No co-payment of the CDCP benefit for those with an adjusted annual family net income under $70,000.

• A 40 per cent co-payment of the CDCP benefit for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $70,000 and $79,999.

• A 60 per cent co-payment of the CDCP benefit for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $80,000 and $89,999.

It is important to know that this is a government dental benefit; it is not a free dental program. While Health Canada encourages dentists to bill patients based on the CDCP benefit, dentists can bill their usual and customary fees. Health Canada asks patients to confirm the fees with their dentist when booking their appointment.

The CDCP is not intended to replace existing workplace or private dental benefits.

How do I access the CDCP?

The Ontario Dental Association does not run or manage the CDCP. We are not involved in any decisions about patient eligibility or enrolment.

The federal government has announced that, starting in December 2023, seniors who may be eligible may receive letters inviting them to apply, with instructions on how to validate their eligibility and apply by telephone. Letters from the government will be sent according to the following age groups:

• December 2023: Ages 87 and above

• January 2024: Ages 77 to 86

• February 2024: Ages 72 to 76

• March 2024: Ages 70 to 71

In May 2024, an online application portal will be open for seniors 65 and older. If you have a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate or have a child under the age of 18, you will be able to apply online as of June 2024. All remaining eligible Canadians will be able to apply online in 2025. For more information, visit canada.ca/dental.

What services will be covered under the CDCP?

Health Canada has stated that the following services could be covered under the CDCP, with some services only becoming available in the fall of 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; and

• Oral surgery services, including extractions.

The specifics of what exactly will be covered under the CDCP has not yet been released.

Can the CDCP replace my existing dental coverage through work or school?

No. The CDCP is designed for Canadian residents who do not have dental benefits. This is defined as coverage:

• not available through your employer or a family member’s employer benefits, including health and wellness accounts;

• not available through your pension (previous employer) or a family member’s pension benefits; or

• not purchased by yourself or by a family member or through a group plan from an insurance or benefits company

The Canada Revenue Agency now requires employers to report on their T4/T4A whether their employees and their families had access to dental insurance coverage, including spending and wellness accounts.

Will I lose my dental coverage at work when the CDCP comes out?

We don’t know and this should concern us all. Two-thirds of Canadians have great dental benefits from their work, school, or other group plan. These plans give them a choice of dentist, and the right to choose what dental care they get.

Dentists believe that the CDCP should improve access to care for people who don’t have benefits. The CDCP should not take away the benefits that people already have.

A recent study showed that a third of Canadians would not support a dental care plan that causes them to lose their employer-provided dental coverage. This is why we need the federal government to tell us what they are planning to do to protect your existing dental benefits.

The government has stated that the CDCP is not intended to replace existing workplace or private dental benefits. The ODA strongly encourages employers and other groups to keep the dental benefits for their employees and members, so they don’t lose access to care.

Should I wait until the CDCP is launched to go to the dentist?

Please don’t delay treatments or your dental appointments! It’s better to keep getting regular dental checkups now to catch problems before they become painful and expensive to treat.

We understand you may be thinking of delaying dental care or rethinking your benefit coverage hoping the costs will be covered by the CDCP. But the government hasn’t mentioned the specific services or treatments will be covered. It also isn’t clear when coverage will start for everyone.

For more information on preventing dental problems, visit our Care and Disease Prevention page.

It’s important that I see the dentist, but I can’t afford to. What options do I have?

It’s very important to speak openly with your dentist. They might be able to set up treatment and payment options that work with your financial situation. Give them a call to see what can be done to help.

Some Ontario municipalities have dental programs specifically for people on low incomes. Try contacting your local public health unit; they may be able to help you find resources in your community.

Will I be able to access the CDCP if I am eligible for services under other government dental programs?

If you are covered under other government dental programs (such as Healthy Smiles Ontario, the Ontario Disability Support Program, or the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Plan) and are eligible for the CDCP,  you will be able to apply. Benefits will be coordinated between the programs, which means that your coverage will not be duplicated.

The federal government is now working with the provinces and territories to figure out how this will work, and to ensure that existing investments are not replaced by the CDCP.

Health Canada has committed to clarifying which programs will be the first and last payer before services begin as early as May of 2024.

What is the Canada Dental Benefit (CDB)?

The Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) is an interim benefit that provides direct, up-front, tax-free payments to help cover out-of-pocket dental care expenses for children under 12 years of age who do not have access to private dental benefits and whose family income is less than $90,000 a year. The CDB provides payments of up to $650 for each eligible under 12 years of age, each year for two years.

Payments are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The CRA will use adjusted income to determine eligibility and the amount of benefit you’ll receive. You must have filed the previous year’s taxes to be eligible.

The benefit will provide:

• $650 for each eligible child per year if the family’s adjusted income is under $70,000.

• $390 for each eligible child per year if the family’s adjusted income is between $70,000 and $79,999.

• $260 for each eligible child per year if the family’s adjusted income is between $80,000 and $89,999.

The CDB is only available for two periods. The first benefit period covered dental care your eligible child received between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023. The second benefit period runs from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

You can apply to get the payment for each period per eligible child to a maximum of two payments provided you incur out-of-pocket expenses for dental care in each period. Applications for the second benefit period are open until June 30, 2024. To access the second benefit period, you must meet the following criteria:

• You have a child or children under 12 as of July 1, 2023, and are currently receiving the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for that child;

• You have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000;

• Your child does not have access to private dental care coverage;

• You have filed your 2022 tax return; and

You have out-of-pocket expenses for your child’s dental care services incurred in Canada between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, for which the costs have not been fully covered under another federal, provincial or territorial government program.

How do I apply for the CDB?

The CRA My Account is the quickest, easiest and most secure way to apply for the CDB. Go to Canada.ca/dental for more information. If you’re unable to apply online, call the CRA at 1-800-715-8836.

Currently, you can apply to get the Canada  benefit ahead of your child’s dental appointment.

When you apply, you will need to confirm that:

• Your child does not have access to private dental care coverage.

• You will have out-of-pocket dental care expenses and will use the CDB to pay for those expenses.

• You understand that you may have to provide receipts to prove the CDB was used to pay for out-of-pocket dental care expenses.

When applying, you should have the following information close by as you will be required to provide:

• The name, address and telephone number of your child’s dental care professional.

• The date (or expected date) of your child’s or children’s dental appointment.

• The name, address and telephone number of your employer and your spouse’s or common-law partner’s employer, if applicable.

If you apply online and are signed up for direct deposit, you could receive your payment within five business days. If you are unable to apply online, you can call a new dedicated phone line at 1-800-715-8836 to complete your application with an agent.

Once you receive the benefit, you must use it to pay for dental services. If the services in that year cost less than the total benefit amount, the CRA expects you to spend it on the child’s oral health needs in lieu of returning any unused money.

Where can I get more information about the CDB?

Health Canada has a factsheet (PDF, English) that you can download and print. It explains the main points of the CDB in an easy-to-understand graphic. It is also available in other languages on theHealth Canada website.

You can also learn how to apply for the CDB by watching this video.

Are children currently covered under another government program, such as Healthy Smiles Ontario, eligible for the CDB?

You aren’t automatically ineligible for the CDB just because you are covered under another government program, like Healthy Smiles Ontario. The CDB is designed to cover any out-of-pocket dental care expenses for each eligible child that have not been fully reimbursed under another federal or provincial government dental program.

In Ontario, once a dental service has been provided and paid for under a provincial program like Healthy Smiles Ontario, there can be no further billing for the same service. However, if you are willing to pay out of pocket for a service, your dentist may bill you directly for that service and, provided you are eligible for the CDB, you would be able to use the CDB to pay for the service.

At this stage, we do not know how the CDCP will work together with provincial government programs. The government has said you can apply for CDCP if you are eligible, even if you are covered under another government program and that they will ensure there is no duplication of coverage. Beyond this, they have not shared any details.

I’m currently using the CDB for my children. Can I apply for the CDCP?

The CDB will expire in June 2024. Eligible children under 18 years will need to be enrolled in the CDCP to continue to receive dental services.

With files from the ODA