Canada’s 2024 Dental Care Plan – What You Need to Know About New Benefits and Improved Coverage

Canada’s Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is making waves with its expanded coverage, ensuring more Canadians receive essential oral health services. Launched in 2023, the CDCP primarily targets uninsured families with annual incomes below $90,000. This initiative is set to benefit nearly 9 million residents who previously struggled to afford dental care.

Starting November 2024, the program includes advanced treatments, marking a major step toward universal dental coverage. Here’s everything you need to know about the expanded CDCP and how it impacts uninsured Canadians.

Services

With the recent updates, the CDCP now covers a broader range of treatments to address more complex dental needs. These additions aim to provide comprehensive care, ensuring Canadians access the treatments they need to maintain good oral health. The key additions include:

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• Specialist Examinations: Thorough evaluations by dental specialists.
• Crowns: Restorations for damaged teeth, with preauthorization required.
• Root Canal Re-Treatments: Coverage for additional root canal procedures.
• Dentures: Includes partial, overdentures, and immediate dentures.
• Major Surgical Procedures: Covers complex surgeries on gums, jaws, and oral tissues.
• Sedation and Anesthesia: Moderate, deep sedation, and general anesthesia are now eligible for coverage upon approval.

These advanced treatments require preauthorization to ensure eligibility and cost management.

Covered Services

Even before the expansion, the CDCP covered a variety of basic and major dental services. These include diagnostic, preventive, restorative, and surgical procedures.

Diagnostic

• Exams: Routine, emergency, and comprehensive exams.
• X-Rays: Imaging for diagnosing oral health issues.
• Cleanings and Fluoride: Routine scaling and fluoride applications.
• Sealants: Preventative coatings to protect teeth from decay.

Basic Dental Services

• Fillings: Both temporary and permanent restorative treatments.
• Root Canals: Includes pulpectomies and infection treatments.
• Gum Disease Management: Non-surgical care, gum cleaning, and abscess treatment.

Major Services

• Crowns and Restorations: For severely damaged teeth.
• Dentures: Full and partial removable prosthetics.
• Oral Surgery: Includes tooth extractions and tumor removal.
• Anesthesia and Sedation: Beyond basic local anesthetics for pain management.

Future Additions

From 2025 onward, orthodontic services for medical conditions will be included, further expanding the program’s reach.

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Eligibility Requirements

The CDCP is designed to assist Canadians without access to dental insurance. To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Canadian Residency: Must reside in Canada.
2. Uninsured Status: No access to dental insurance through employment or personal coverage.
3. Income Thresholds: Annual family income below $90,000. Families earning less than $70,000 receive full coverage with no co-pays, while those earning between $70,000 and $90,000 contribute co-pays based on income.

Eligible Groups

• Children under 18 years.
• Adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit.
• Adults aged 65 and older.

From 2025, additional groups will also be eligible as the plan expands further.

Co-Payments

The CDCP uses adjusted family net income to determine coverage percentages and applicant contributions. Here’s a breakdown of coverage based on income:

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Examples

1. No Co-Payment: Jane (income: $32,000) pays $11 for a $145 cleaning, with CDCP covering $134.
2. 40% Co-Payment: Sam and Anne (income: $76,000) pay $53.60 of a $134 charge, with CDCP covering the rest.
3. 60% Co-Payment: Kate (income: $82,000) pays $91.40 for a $145 cleaning, with CDCP covering $53.60.

Next Steps

The CDCP is poised to grow even further in 2025, adding services like orthodontics under strict medical guidelines. As the plan evolves, Canadians can expect better access to affordable dental care.

To make the most of the CDCP, beneficiaries should:

• know Preauthorization: Advanced procedures require CDCP approval.
• Plan for Co-Payments: Higher-income applicants will need to budget for partial contributions.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan represents a significant step toward making dental care universally accessible. While coverage limitations exist, this ambitious program is closing the gap in oral health care, ensuring more Canadians can smile confidently.

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