Dental health is essential to our general well-being; however, for numerous Canadians, access to adequate dental care often poses a serious financial challenge. This is why the federal government has introduced two new dental coverage programs aimed at making oral healthcare more accessible than ever.
Everything you need to know about the Canada Dental Benefit
The end of 2022 brought some significant progress in the area of dental health with the arrival of the Canada Dental Benefit.
This measure aims to provide coverage for the many children under the age of 12 who have been unable to benefit from adequate dental care because they are from low-income families. The program offers benefits ranging from $260 to $650, depending on the family’s household income.
Considering that severe inflation has led to an increase in the cost of living, let’s just say that this is more than welcome news.
Eligibility criteria for the Canada Dental Benefit
This benefit will cover the dental care your child receives during two different periods:
- Period 1: October 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023
- Period 2: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
In order to submit an application to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you must meet all of the following requirements:
- The child must have been born on December 2, 2010 or later.
- Private insurance or another dental-care program must not cover the cost of your child’s dental care.
- You must be the only parent who received the Canada child benefit (CCB) on December 1, 2022, or if you have joint custody, you must have received half of the CCB on that same date.
- You and your spouse or common-law spouse must have filed your 2021 tax returns.
- Your annual net household income must have been less than $90,000 for 2021.
- For verification purposes, you must be able to provide receipts or other documentation proving that you paid for your child’s dental care.
If you satisfy all of these conditions, you may qualify for the following:
- Families whose adjusted net income is below $70,000 could receive $650 for each eligible child.
- Families whose adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $79,999 could receive $390 for each eligible child.
- Families whose adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $89,999 could receive $260 for each eligible child.
Please note that, if the costs of your child’s dental care exceed $650 in a given period, you may meet the eligibility requirements for an additional payment.
How to apply
If you have access to your CRA account, you can submit your application online. If you aren’t registered, you can submit your application by telephone; however, the application processing time and the waiting period for treatment will be longer.
Once your file has been processed—and you’ve set up direct deposits—you’ll receive the payments directly in your account.
The Canada Dental Benefit: universal access to dental care
While some people would prefer for dental care to be free for everyone in Quebec and Canada as a whole, this Government of Canada measure is definitely a step in the right direction.
If you have any questions regarding the Canada Dental Benefit, please feel free to contact the CRA directly. You’ll also be happy to know that the team at Clinique Dentaire Charles Trottier in Vaudreuil-Dorion is available to give you all the information you need in order to get the most out of this opportunity to take proper care of your children’s teeth.
Everything you need to know about the Canadian Dental Care Plan
In December of 2023, the federal government launched the second part of its dental coverage initiative for eligible residents of Canada. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is currently accepting applications from seniors aged 72 and older.
The goal of the CDCP is to supplement the dental plans offered by the RAMQ (the Quebec Health Insurance Board), which remains the first payer, therefore taking precedence over the CDCP.
Eligibility requirements for the dental care program for low-income individuals
To qualify for the dental care benefits offered to low-income individuals, you must meet all of the criteria listed below:
- You must not have access to any dental insurance offered through your employee benefit package or that of a family member, through your pension plan benefits or those of a family member or through a professional or student organization, among others.
- You must be a resident of Canada for tax purposes.
- You must have filed a tax return for the previous year.
- Your household adjusted net income must be less than $90,000 per year. If your annual household adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $90,000, you will have to assume a 60-percent share of the payment, and if’s between $70,000 and $79,000, you will have to assume 40 percent of the cost. However, if your annual household adjusted net income is below $70,000, you won’t have to pay a penny.
If you have access to dental coverage through one of Quebec’s social programs, you can also benefit from the free dental care offered by the Government of Canada. Your coverage will then be coordinated between the various programs.
Effective dates of the dental care program for low-income residents of Quebec
The Government of Canada has implemented a schedule for eligible individuals to sign up for CDCP benefits so they can begin receiving free dental care. The people in each age group can expect a letter prior to the corresponding registration date.
- Seniors aged 87 and older: applications accepted as of December 2023
- Seniors aged 77 to 86: applications accepted as of January 2024
- Seniors aged 72 to 76: applications accepted as of February 2024
- Seniors aged 70 to 71: applications accepted as of March 2024
- Seniors aged 65 to 69: applications accepted as of May 2024
- Adults with a valid certificate for the tax credit for people with disabilities: applications accepted as of June 2024
- Children under the age of 18: applications accepted as of June 2024
- All other eligible Canadian residents: applications accepted as of 2025
Please note that you may not claim reimbursement for any dental services performed before the effective date of the program.
How to benefit from the free dental care offered by the Government of Canada
Over the coming months, those who may be eligible will receive an invitation letter from Service Canada with instructions on how to sign up for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. The procedure is as follows:
- Call Service Canada at 1-800-537-4342 and press 1.
- Have the following items on hand: the registrant’s social security number, two pieces of identification and the code provided in the letter from Service Canada. This code is unique and personal. After April 30, 2024, you must visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental.html to request a code.
- Answer the questions regarding private dental insurance.
Once your eligibility has been verified, you’ll receive an information kit from Sun Life Canada consisting of a membership card and the start date of your dental care coverage for low-income individuals.
Covered dental care services for low-income individuals in Quebec
The principal dental services covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan include the following:
- Tartar removal (cleaning), polishing and topical application of fluoride and sealants
- Dental exams and X-rays
- Dental fillings
- Endodontic services, including root canals
- Full dentures and partial plates
- Periodontal services
- Oral surgery services, such as extractions
Certain dental care services for low-income individuals won’t be available until the fall of 2024. For more information, consult the full guide to the dental benefits offered through the CDCP.
Do you have questions about the federal government’s dental programs?
If you have any questions regarding the Canada Dental Benefit program or the Canadian Dental Care Plan, please feel free to contact the CRA directly. You’ll also be happy to know that the team at Clinique Dentaire Charles Trottier in Vaudreuil-Dorion is available to give you all the information you need so you can make the most of this opportunity to access high-quality dental care.
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental.html