NEW Canadian Dental Care Plan for Dental Patients

If you have been finding it difficult to keep up with the costs of dental care for you and your loved ones, 2024 is shaping up to be a good year. As a Canadian resident, you could qualify for a new form of dental coverage courtesy of this unique, public-funded federal government program.

After realizing the importance of making sure that every family has access to the services of a good oral health provider, the government stepped in to help those who cannot afford dental insurance.

As a result, the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) was born. This article will look closely at what this plan entails, eligibility for the program, how to enroll, as well as the dental benefits policyholders will be entitled to. Read on to find out more.

Canadian Dental Care Plan – What Is It?

One of the most important things in this country when it comes to caring for its residents has always been good health. Organizations such as Health Canada have a mandate to ensure that Canadians have access to good health plans, and this now includes oral health care.

As part of its 2024 objective to give every qualifying resident access to dental health, the government has rolled out the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). It was scheduled to begin in May 2024 to make access to dental care more affordable for everyone who meets the criteria for qualification.

The CDCP is a collaboration between Health Canada, Sun Life, and Employment Social Development Canada (ESDC). Sun Life, a financial services company providing financial planning, life insurance, and health insurance, is responsible for the administration of the program.

At this point, it is important to note that the CDCP is not intended to provide free dental health care for all Canadians. It will also not replace private dental insurance plans or employer benefits.

This plan is simply meant to help those Canadian residents who would otherwise not be able to afford high healthcare service costs due to their low household income and tax return bracket.

Research has shown the importance of access to a good oral health care service in the fight against tooth decay, gum disease, and other related conditions such as cardiovascular disease and stroke.

However, at least one-third of all Canadians avoid visiting the dental office due to the high costs of even the most basic diagnostic services. As such, the CDCP is the government’s way of providing the good health care service Canada feels its residents are entitled to.

Qualification for the CDCP

The government of Canada maintains tight control over qualification to the CDCP to protect the other parties involved, such as private insurance companies and providers of employee benefits/private plans.

Qualification mostly relies on family incomes and the residency status of the applicants. The following is a list of all the basic requirements to be eligible for the CDCP:

• Applicants must have properly filed an income tax return in the previous year (in this case, 2023).
• This dental coverage program is only available to a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
• The net annual family income (after taxes) must be less than $90,000.
• Applicants must not have any existing dental insurance through a private plan, current or previous employer, or a pension plan.
• Eligibility for children for this Canadian dental benefit program is limited to those under 18 years of age.

Potential applicants can visit the Sun Life website to see the appropriate dental benefit grids that will guide them through their application.

If these conditions are met, the applicant may be entitled to receive a variety of benefits through this unique dental care program.

You can speak to a good oral health care provider, such as Clearview Dental, to discuss your eligibility for this program and the services you would be able to enjoy.

Coverage Amount Under the CDCP

Once access has been granted, applicants will have access to a variety of benefits according to the fee guide released by the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

The country already has provincial and territorial fee guides as part of its government social services, but these will differ from those from the CDCP.

An important point to remember is that not all beneficiaries of the CDCP will receive total financial assistance for the oral health care service they want. Structured co-payments may be required for this dental plan, depending on annual net family income.

As such, it is very important for those seeking dental care under the CDCP to ask about any healthcare service costs or additional charges that will not be covered by this social program.

All co-payments or fees will be paid out-of-pocket directly to the dental office that is part of these new government dental programs. This means that even with the help of the CDCP, some financial barriers may still be there for low-earning Canadians.

The following is a brief breakdown of the coverage percentage as well as the co-payments required for additional charges:

• Net or adjusted family income of below $70,000 – 100% CDCP coverage and 0% from the patient
• Annual family income of $70,000 to $79,999 – 60% CDCP coverage and a potential co-payment of 40% from the beneficiary
• $80,000 – $89,999 family income – 40% CDCP coverage and 60% from the patient

Gaps in coverage between the cost of the dental services and what is provided by the Canadian Dental Care Plan may arise if the dental providers’ fees are higher than those stipulated under the plan. This gap will be charged to the patient and not to the government’s oral health care program.

What this means is that it is up to the qualifying patients to ensure that they choose a dentist whose health care service costs and fees for administrative burdens are within the guidelines set by the CDCP if they do not want to pay additional charges.

Application Procedure

Seniors aged 65 and over will receive a letter with all the instructions they need on how to apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. These applications can be sent through the phone or by using the online application portal that is available from May 2024.

Applications for an eligible child under 18 years of age or people with disabilities will be opened in June 2024. All other eligible applicants will have to wait until 2025 to apply for this Canada dental benefit program.

Clearview Dental Clinic Can Help

If you do not have existing coverage through employer dental plans and your financial situation fits the CDCP requirements, you can send your application code for the dental care coverage program to Clearview Dental today.

The following are some examples of services that will be available to you:

• X-rays
• Endodontic services
• Diagnostics
• Endodontic, prosthodontic, and Periodontal services
• Oral surgery services
• Restorative and preventive services

Children under age 18, seniors, disabled people, and all other CDCP applicants without employment benefits are free to visit the Clearview Dental website today.

Whether you are looking for a permanent solution to missing teeth (such as dental bridges) or you just need some cosmetic dentistry (removable dentures), this is the right family dentist for your needs.

Oral health/wellness accounts for a huge part of your happiness. As such, you need to put your trust in one of the country’s top-rated dental professionals.

Thanks to the Canadian Dental Care Plan and dental services from places such as Clearview Dental, access to good oral health services is now easier than ever before.

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