Hold onto your dental dams Canada, because as of May 29 all eligible Canadians qualified for the national dental plan, which was launched in 2024 by the federal Liberals, with more than a little prompting from the NDP.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan was initially rolled out to provide coverage for seniors aged 65 and older, children younger than 18, and adults with a valid 2023 Disability Tax Credit certificate.
Who’s eligible today
The program expanded on May 1 to include those aged 55 to 64, May 15 for ages 18 to 34, and May 29 for those aged 35 to 54, opening it up to every Canadian who qualifies, including:
- Residents with no access to dental insurance
- Residents with a family income of less than $90,000
- Canadian residents who have access to dental benefits through a social program offered by their province or territory and/or by the federal government if they meet certain criteria.
- Residents must have filed their income tax in the previous year
- If you’re eligible for dental coverage through your workplace, professional or student organization, but choose not to take it or use it, you’re not eligible for the plan. If you qualify, your coverage will be coordinated between plans to make sure there are no duplication or gaps in coverage.
How to apply
To complete the application, you’ll need to provide the following information for each applicant and your spouse or common-law partner (if you have one), including social insurance number (if available for children), date of birth, full name, home and mailing address, and a list of dental coverage you have through government social programs (if any).
Beginning of renewal process
Starting this past March, current plan members must renew their coverage, which includes filing a 2024 tax return and receiving their 2024 Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency before applying at canada.ca/dental, in My Service Canada Account or by phone.
Plan members were to submit their renewal applications by June 1 to ensure uninterrupted coverage. Coverage for those who did not renew will end on June 30. Note: Canadians can still reapply but they could experience a gap in any oral health care services and will not be eligible for reimbursement.
You can find more information on the dental plan at coastreporter.net.
In case of a postal strike
In the event of a postal strike, there may be delays in receiving your My Service Canada Account by mail. You can request a code in person or by phone, otherwise, you can register for your account and verify your identity using the Interac® verification service if this option is available to you.
As well, a Service Canada outreach site is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Service BC Office, 5498 Wharf Ave.
