The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a national program that provides some coverage for Canadian residents who do not have access to dental insurance and have a household income of less than $90,000 a year.

• Dental care under the CDCP is expected to start in May 2024, but the coverage date will be different for each person.
• The CDCP is not intended to be a replacement for those with existing dental benefits offered through employer/pension-sponsored or private plans, but it is intended to fill existing gaps in coverage and complement existing provincial and territorial dental programs (e.g., Healthy Smiles Ontario and the Ontario Senior Dental Care Program).
• Patients will be required to make a co-payment (to pay for a portion of their dental care under the CDCP) depending on their adjusted family net income, as follows:
• No co-payment for those with an adjusted annual family net income under $70,000.
• A 40 per cent co-payment for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $70,000 and $79,999.
• A 60 per cent co-payment for those with an adjusted annual family net income between $80,000 and $89,999.

Eligibility Criteria:

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 their tax return in the previous year.

How To Apply: 

Canadian residents who may qualify will be able to apply to the CDCP through Service Canada.

Applications will first open for seniors aged 87 and above in December 2023, expanding in phases to those aged 77 to 86 in January 2024. 

Individuals in these age groups who may be eligible will receive letters inviting them to apply, with instructions on how to validate their eligibility and apply by telephone.

People who are eligible to apply starting in May 2024, will be able to do so online.