What is the Canada Dental Care Plan and is it for me?
In Canada, it is common knowledge that dental care can be cripplingly expensive. If you do not have benefits through work, a dental cleaning is about $150-$250. More, for a filling. Much more, for a root canal.
This is a reality many people live with as they put off seeing the dentist and hope and pray the issue does not get worse. Canada Dental Care Plan is aimed at this issue, and if you qualify, most of your dental work could get done for little to no cost.
What is the CDCP?
It is a federal service, meaning that Canadians with no private dental insurance can get dental care assistance at no cost to them. Yes, you read that right. The federal government covers a portion of your dental work and your dentist gets paid through Sun Life (the administrators of this plan) directly. You may not have to pay anything, depending on how much you earn.
The scheme to assist seniors, followed by children under 18 years, and disability tax credit adults is set to commence in 2023. Children under 18 years and adults with disabilities will be added in 2023. By 2024, the scheme will be open to all eligible Canadians.
Who Can Apply?
You must meet these three conditions.
✓ You must be a Canadian resident and file a tax return.
✓ Your adjusted family net income is less than $90,000.
✓ You do not have access to private dental insurance through your work, union, pension plan, etc.
The last criteria is a surprise to many. Even having partial coverage makes you ineligible. This is an either or program.
If you are eligible, not all expenses are covered, and this depends on household income:
Analyzing Benefits
More than most people think. The CDCP covers:
Cleaning, Fluoride treatment, x rays
Exams and assessments
Fillings and basic restorative
Gum disease treatment
Wisdom tooth extraction
Root canals (some limitations)
Not all dentures and prosthetics
One common question is, how many cleanings are covered by the CDCP? Adults are typically covered for one cleaning and one recall exam per benefits year. If someone has a more complex clinical need, additional cleanings may be covered. Additional care is most likely for children.
Not Covered: CDCP will not cover braces, invisalign, and any other orthodontic treatment. Additionally, there is no coverage for cosmetic whitening.
How to Apply?
As for applying, this seems to trip people up. You do not apply at a dental office. You apply through Service Canada.
Here’s how things go:
Service Canada will send you an invitation in the mail. The process is based on tax return data. If the address you have listed with the CRA is not current, you will not receive the mail.
Once you get the invitation, you can apply online for Service Canada via your My Service Canada Account or you can call 1-833-537-4342.
You will receive a card in the mail after your coverage is approved.
You will need to present the card during your dental appointment. Sun Life will process the claims and therefore your dentist will not need to do anything.
Have you got your invitation to apply but you don’t have the Carrying for People with Low Incomes Federal Program? If you qualify, you don’t have to wait. If you live in Ontario, you may also want to apply for Healthy Smiles Ontario. Healthy Smiles Ontario is an additional program for lower-income families that you may qualify for in conjunction with the federal program.
CDCP Most Common Questions
My employer offers me a very limited dental plan. Am I still able to access the CDCP?+
No. Any form of private dental insurance, regardless of the benefit, disqualifies you. The CDCP is designed for individuals with absolutely no coverage.
My child needs braces. Will any of this be covered?+
There is currently no coverage for braces and orthodontic appliances under the CDCP. If there is a clinical reason for early or interceptive treatment, you may want to discuss possible options with your dentist. Also, if you would like to know the cost estimate for braces in Ontario, you can ask our team, this is treatment and age dependent.
How about sealants for my children?+
Sealants, as a preventive service, are covered for children who are eligible. These are an extremely effective method to prevent cavities in the permanent molars and if your children are eligible, this is a great way to utilize your CDCP coverage.
Are the CDCP and Healthy Smiles Ontario the same thing?+
No, those are different programs. Healthy Smiles is a provincial program and CDCP is federal. Some families qualify for both. If you are confused about what applies to you, just ask us at the front desk, we handle this often and we are able to figure this out quickly.
The Costs Associated With Ignoring Dental Work
When it comes to dental appointments, the more time that you ignore them, the more expensive they become. For example, a cleaning can detect a small tooth decay, which may seem like a non-issue. But the longer you wait, the more that decay can lead to a root canal or the tooth becoming unrepairable.
If it makes it easier for you or your family to stay on top of dental appointments, then it may take a few minutes to check and see if you qualify for the CDCP benefits.
If you would like to know your coverage, we can assist you with this. In fact, you can call us about this and we’ll direct you before you come in, and we’ll help you with this.
We accept the Canada Dental Care Plan here at Eleven Dental.