Canadian Dental Care Plan for Seniors - Feb 2024 Update

Canadian Dental Care Plan Update - Feb 8, 2024‍

The Government of Canada announced further details on the oral health care services that will be covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) to prevent and treat oral health issues and disease.‍

Highlights:‍

The Canadian Dental Care Plan will be larger than any other permanent government benefit program to date as it aims to improve access to dental care for up to 9 million uninsured Canadians.

Since the CDCP launched in mid-December, more than 600,000 Canadians have successfully applied to participate in the plan through Service Canada.

Application letters are currently being sent to potentially eligible Canadians aged 72 or older.

Canadian residents in households that make under $90,000 annually will be able to get some or all of their routine dentistry paid for.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help cover a wide range of oral health care services that:

• keep your teeth and gums healthy
• prevent and treat oral health care issues and diseases.‍

‍Issues:‍

Participation of Dental Care Providers is voluntary - your dentist may not participate in the plan.

You may have to pay fees in addition to the potential co-payment if:

• your oral health provider charges more than the CDCP fees
• you agree to receive care that the plan doesn’t cover

Before receiving oral health care, you should always ask your oral health provider about any costs that won’t be covered by the plan. Make sure you know what you’ll have to pay directly to your oral health provider ahead of receiving treatment.

Some oral health care services will require preauthorization. Preauthorization is a process where prior approval is required, based on the recommendation of the oral health provider, before the treatment is provided, to confirm it will be covered under the plan.

You can't qualify for the new national plan if you have existing private dental care insurance through your employer, your pension or any other organization, or through a plan you've purchased yourself.‍

Further Reading‍

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.htm
‍Canadian Dental Care Plan Website‍

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2024/02/government-of-canada-announces-the-services-covered-under-the-canadian-dental-care-plan.html
‍Canadian Government Feb 8 CDCP Press Release‍

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan/coverage.html
‍Canadian Dental Care Plan - What services are covered‍

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/seniors-national-dental-care-plan-opt-out-private-insurance-1.7104855
‍CBC Article on private dental care insurance and CDCP eligibility