What the plan is
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a federal program that helps pay for dental care if you are a Canadian resident who does not have access to dental insurance. It is run for the Government of Canada by Sun Life. It is not insurance from an employer, and it is not OHIP.
Who qualifies
At the time of writing, you can qualify if all of these are true:
- You are a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
- You do not have access to dental insurance, through work, a pension, a family member's plan or one you bought yourself.
- Your adjusted family net income is under $90,000.
- You, and your spouse or partner if you have one, filed a tax return for the previous year.
The government sets these rules and can change them, so please check the current rules, and apply, at canada.ca/dental.
What you may pay
We know cost is a worry, so here is how it works. The plan does not always pay the whole fee. Two things can leave an amount for you.
- A co-payment set by your income. With an adjusted family net income under $70,000 there is no co-payment. From $70,000 to $79,999 it is 40 per cent, and from $80,000 to $89,999 it is 60 per cent.
- The difference in fees. We charge every patient the Ontario Dental Association's suggested fee, whatever coverage they have. The plan pays according to its own fee schedule, which is lower than that for many services, and the difference is yours to pay.
Before any treatment we will give you an estimate showing what the plan is expected to pay, your co-payment if you have one, and the difference. Our fees page explains how this works for every kind of coverage, and you are welcome to ask us anything about it.
What the plan covers
It covers most routine care: examinations, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, root canal treatment, extractions and dentures. Some services, crowns among them, need the plan's approval before they are done, and we will send that request for you.
It does not cover cosmetic treatment such as whitening or veneers, and it does not cover implants.
What to bring
- Your CDCP member card, or the letter from Sun Life showing your member number.
- The date your coverage starts. Care received before that date is not paid by the plan.
- A list of your medications.