Oral health is essential to Canadians’ overall health, but oral health care can be expensive. 1:3 people in Canada do not have dental insurance, and, in 2022, one in four Canadians reported avoiding visiting an oral health professional because of cost.
Our Government is committed to making life more affordable for Canadians. In Budget 2023 we invested $13 billion over five years in health and $4.4 billion specifically to fund dental care.
The CDCP is not a replacement for existing dental benefits under employer/pension-sponsored or private plans. It is intended to fill systemic gaps in coverage and complement existing provincial/territorial dental programs.
To qualify for the CDCP, the following criteria must be met:
- No access to dental insurance;
- An adjusted family net income of less than $90,000;
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes; and
- Have filed a tax return in the previous year.
AND:
- A child under the age of 18 (started in June 2024)
- An adult with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate (started in June 2024)
To find out if you’re eligible for CDCP, check out:
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/qualify.html
To apply for CDCP:
You can apply only if you received a letter inviting you to apply for CDCP. Letters have been sent in stages from December 2023 to March 2024 to people 70 years of age and over who may be eligible, starting with those over 87 years old. If you believe you’re eligible for CDCP but did not receive the invitation letter, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.
To apply online, please go to the official website by the Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/apply.html#apply-online
CDCP is opening in phases, so make sure you meet all 4 eligibility requirements before applying. To complete the applications, you’ll need to provide the following information for each applicant and your spouse or common-law partner.
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Date of birth
- Full name
- Home and mailing address
- List of dental coverage through government social programs (if applicable)
- You and your spouse or common-law partner (if applicable) must have filed your tax return for 2023 and have received your Notice of Assessment
If you can’t apply online, you may apply by phone: 1-833-537-4342.
If you wish to apply in person, visit a Service Canada office near you: the nearest one to our office is at 1263 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G7.
Phone number +1 800-622-6232; the operation hours are 8:30 am to 4 pm PST every weekday. I recommend booking an appointment before you go.
You can use the automated phone service to check your application. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-833-537-4342 and select option 2. Representatives are also available 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, Monday to Friday, to answer any questions you may have. They do not answer calls on statutory holidays.
When will coverage start?
- Canadian residents who qualify will be sent a welcome package by Sun Life with a member card and the start date for when their oral health care services will be covered under the CDCP.
- Those covered under the CDCP will be able to start seeing an oral health provider as early as May 2024, starting with seniors, depending on when they apply.
- The coverage start date will be based on when the application is received, and the individual is enrolled in the CDCP. The CDCP coverage start date will vary by individual.
- The package is sent by Sun Life, unfortunately, my office would not be able to rush any progress on receiving them. If you have any questions about your package, please call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110.
- The CDCP will not reimburse any oral health care services received before that individual’s start date.
What services are covered?
Please note that CDCP is a benefit plan, it does not cover ALL oral health care services.
The majority of services covered under the CDCP have been available since May 2024, the start date for claims to be submitted by participating providers. Some oral health services will require pre-authorisation and will only be available beginning in November 2024.
- Diagnostic services, including examination and x-rays
- Preventative services, including scaling (cleaning), polishing, sealants and fluoride
- Restorative services, including fillings
- Endodontic services, inducing root canal treatments
- Prosthodontic services, inducing removable complete and partial dentures
- Periodontal services, including deep scaling
- Oral surgery services, including extractions
Information for Dental Care providers:
Starting on July 8th 2024, eligible oral health providers in Canada can now provide services to CDCP clients on a claim-by-claim basis without formally signing up.
Care providers who participate in CDCP will receive direct payment from Sun Life for services covered under the CDCP rather than having patients seek reimbursement from Sun Life.
CDCP fees may differ from provincial and territorial oral health associations suggested fee guides that providers often use to charge for oral health services.
Information for Patients:
Close to 19,000 dentists, hygienists and denturists are participating in the program, representing over 75% of active oral health providers in Canada.
Patients may have to pay additional charges directly to the oral health provider. A co-payment is the percentage of CDCP fees that is not covered by the CDCP, and that patients will have to pay directly to their oral health provider.
You can also find a CDCP provider on Sun Life website: Oral health providers are confirming their participation every day. If you can’t find any CDCP providers near you, check back soon.
https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/member/provider-search/
I recommend calling your dental clinic and seeing if they’re participating in CDCP.
*My office will not be able to apply CDCP for you, we’re open to assist with any questions you might have regarding the program. To contact my office, please email me at Hedy.Fry@parl.gc.ca including your full name and postal code. Thank you.
