All remaining eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 will be covered
More working age Canadians will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
Starting May 2025, all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 years old will be able to apply for the CDCP, according to the government. This is the final group of Canadians who will become eligible for the program.
"Expanding the Canadian Dental Care Plan to all eligible Canadians is a big step forward in improving the health and well-being of millions across the country,” says Kamal Khera, minister of health. “Access to affordable dental care is vital for Canadians to enable better health outcomes, reduce barriers to care and alleviate pressure on our health care system. This next step is only possible because of the continued support and participation of oral health providers across the country."
Up to 4.5 million uninsured Canadians between 18 and 64 years old are expected to join the millions of seniors, children, and adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate already eligible for affordable oral health care services under the CDCP, according to the federal government.
In June 2024, Ottawa expanded the CDCP coverage to include children under 18 and persons with a valid disability tax credit certificate.
The federal government previously said Canadians aged 18 to 64 would be able to apply in January. However, in October 2024, Mark Holland, who was health minister at the time, walked back that statement.
"We didn't say January. We said 2025," he said at the time, according to a CBC report.
How do I apply for Canadian Dental Care Plan?
CDCP applications for the final batch of eligible Canadians will open by age group:
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May 1: 55 to 64 years old
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May 15: 18 to 34 years old
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May 29: 35 to 54 years old
To qualify for the CDCP, applicants must:
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Not have access to dental insurance.
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Have filed their individual 2024 tax return in Canada (and their spouse's or common-law partner's, if applicable)
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Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000
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Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
More details about the application process is available right here.
Meanwhile, current CDCP members must renew their coverage, starting this month.
CDCP members must have filed their 2024 tax return and received their 2024 Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency before applying for renewal at canada.ca/dental, in My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or by telephone.
Members must submit their renewal applications by June 1, 2025, to ensure uninterrupted coverage, according to the federal government.
Coverage for those who do not renew will end on June 30, 2025 and any oral health care services received during a gap in coverage will not be eligible for reimbursement.
More information is available right here.
To date, close to 98% of active dentists, denturists, dental hygienists, and dental specialists in Canada, including those in educational institutions, are caring for patients covered under the CDCP, according to the federal government.
Ottawa revealed details of the CDCP rollout in late 2023. Budget 2023 announced an investment of $13 billion over five years, starting in 2023-24, and $4.4 billion ongoing, to implement the CDCP.
However, in January 2024, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) called on the federal government to put an additional $1.45 billion into the CDCP. That’s because the plan is underfunded, said David Macdonald, CCPA senior economist, in his report. As it is, about 4.4 million uninsured Canadians will be excluded from the benefits in its full implementation without additional funding, he estimates.
