Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Individuals must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) coverage.

• No access to dental plan, meaning:
  • no coverage through employer or a family member’s employer benefits; including health and wellness accounts;
  • no coverage through pension (previous employer) or a family member’s pension benefits; or
  • no coverage through a purchased plan by yourself or by a family member or through a group plan from an insurance or benefits company.
• an adjusted annual family net income of less than $90,000;
• be a Canadian resident for tax purposes; and
• have filed their tax return in the previous year.

Canadian residents who have access to dental benefits through a social program offered by their province or territory and/or by the federal government will be eligible for the CDCP if they meet all the eligibility criteria.

Patients who decide to opt out of benefits available to them from their employer, school, etc. will be considered by the federal government as someone who has access to dental plan. This means if you decline dental coverage through your/your spouse’s employment benefits, you will not be eligible for the CDCP.

Read more on Health Canada’s website to see if you qualify.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is not intended to replace existing dental coverage. It is important that Canadians do not drop their existing coverage, as they might not be eligible for the CDCP if they do.

The CDCP is designed to provide coverage for Canadians who do not have an existing dental plan.

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

If you have dental coverage through a provincial, territorial, or federal government social program, you can still qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). If you meet all the eligibility criteria, your coverage will be coordinated between the plans to ensure there are no duplications or gaps in coverage.

Health Canada has indicated that as of March 11, 2024, oral health providers will be able to enter into an agreement directly with Sun Life to participate in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Participation in the CDCP is voluntary.

As of July 8, 2024, oral health providers can direct bill Sun Life for services provided on a claim-by-claim basis to receive payment under the CDCP.

The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and the Provincial and Territorial Dental Associations recommend that providers assess and understand the terms and conditions of the CDCP and how participating fits with their practice before signing any agreement.

CDA has long advocated for targeted investments to improve access to oral health care and we believe the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help improve access to care for many Canadians, especially for vulnerable populations.

CDA alongside provincial and territorial dental associations and other stakeholders have worked diligently to provide insights and technical expertise to the government for the development and implementation of the CDCP.

We have emphasized our key recommendations from our February 2023 policy paper to guide the development of the CDCP, such as holistic oral health, patient-centred care, prioritization of preventative care, and support for existing dental offices by eliminating administrative burdens and ensuring that a strategy is in place to help address human resource challenges.