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2975 Glen Dr, Coquitlam, BC V3B 2P7
Last Updated: July 2024 | Originally Published: September 2023
Heard about the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) yet?
With applications now open, it’s set to bring dental coverage to millions of Canadians — including older Tri-City residents who want dental care but don’t have private dental insurance to help them manage the costs.
Some of our patients have heard about the CDCP and have asked us if we can tell them more about what to expect and when they’ll be able to start taking advantage of it, so we’ve created this page as a resource.
Many of the plan's key details are now available, so read on to find out more about what you can expect from the CDCP if you're looking to take advantage of it here in the Tri-Cities.
The program is now fully open to all senior (age 65+) applicants.
Starting in December 2023, the government began allowing seniors to register for the CDCP in phases. As of May 2024, all seniors became eligible to apply for the CDCP.
Here's a breakdown of when applications for seniors were opened:
Important: those dates only indicate when applications opened, not when seniors in those groups are able to visit a local dentist for care.
If you're applying, you'll need to wait until your application has been approved and you receive your welcome package before you can visit a dentist. We've explained more about that further below in the section, "When can successful applicants visit a dentist?"
The CDCP has specific eligibility requirements, so it's important to check if you're able to claim coverage through the program.
The program has helpfully set up an official page to help people understand whether they qualify - that's available here: Canadian Dental Care Plan - Do You Qualify
In short, you have to meet these four requirements to qualify:
Since many seniors are retired, the requirements around dental insurance coverage are one area where you'll want to pay extra attention.
Remember - having access to any kind of dental coverage - whether it's through a family member or professional organization - means that you won't be able to access the CDCP. That still applies even if you have access but have opted out of using it.
There's one exception to using the CDCP alongside another dental plan, and that's if your existing dental coverage is provided through government social programs.
If that applies to your situation, you can still qualify for the CDCP - the program administrators will ensure that you receive the care you're eligible for without "duplication or gaps in coverage".
If you're ready to apply, you can do so through the program's official application page.
Here's a link to it: Canadian Dental Care Plan - Apply
The page includes full details of what you'll need to submit your application, plus extra information about how you can apply with assistance from a trusted friend, family member, or delegate.
Applying online is strongly encouraged, but the option for applying by phone is also available. To apply by phone, you can call 1-833-537-4342.
The earliest time that you can visit a dentist and claim CDCP coverage depends, roughly, on when your application is submitted and approved.
Currently, the CDCP states that (if everything is in order), your welcome package will arrive within "approximately 3 months of your application".
That welcome package will include a member card and benefit start date. Its second item will tell you the exact date when, either on or after, you'll be able to schedule an appointment with a local dentist.
For months, the expectation was that patients would only be able to visit dental practices that had been approved as registered providers.
However, in early July, the government announced that practices would be able to submit coverage claims without registering.
As a patient, that potentially gives you more flexibility to (a) stay with your current dental practice even if it's unregistered, or (b) choose a new dental practice that isn't registered.
That said, if you choose to visit a dental practice that hasn't registered as a CDCP provider, you'll need to make sure they're open to billing the CDCP on your behalf.
Not all practices are willing to do that, as it requires them to handle a bit of extra administrative work and delays payment by a day or two.
Altogether, that means, if you're looking for a simple, hassle-free experience with the CDCP, your best bet is to choose a registered provider.
It guarantees that you'll receive the coverage you're eligible for, and that you'll have an easier time resolving any issues that do come up.
The CDCP has confirmed that it'll cover a wide range of essential treatments, although not all of them are available yet.
The full list of covered treatments is available here: Canadian Dental Care Plan - What Services Are Covered
Currently, available treatments include popular or regularly-used services like:
Some treatments will need preauthorization before coverage will be granted. Typically, this applies to treatments that are more invasive or require a longer treatment time. These treatments will be available starting November 2024, and include procedures like:
Finally, while less common for seniors, the CDCP has confirmed that orthodontic services, for health-related purposes, will be added to the program at a yet-to-be-determined time in 2025.
It depends on your adjusted family net income.
Lower than $70,000
The CDCP will cover 100% of any eligible treatments based on established CDCP pricing. You'll need to pay for any treatments not covered by the CDCP.
Between $70,000 and $79,999
The CDCP will cover 60% of any eligible treatments based on established CDCP pricing. You'll need to pay for the remaining 40%, plus the cost of any treatments not covered by the CDCP.
Between $80,000 and $89,999
The CDCP will cover 40% of any eligible treatments based on established CDCP pricing. You'll need to pay for the remaining 60%, plus the cost of any treatments not covered by the CDCP.
You might be wondering what "established CDCP pricing" means. That refers to the fact that dental practices are free to set their own prices while the CDCP has an established set of prices for all of the treatments it covers.
So, if a dentist chooses to charge more for a treatment compared to established CDCP pricing, then you'll need to pay out-of-pocket to make up the difference.
Before committing to treatment, it's always a good idea to ask about any costs that won't be covered, and there's no harm in getting a full breakdown of your treatment bill beforehand if you're aiming to be cost-conscious.
Or, put another way, how often will you be able to use your coverage?
The main factor is the type of treatment you're looking to receive. Rather than placing a maximum dollar amount for annual coverage, the CDCP assigns a coverage frequency guideline to each treatment.
Some treatments are eligible for coverage once every 12 months, while for others the frequency may be as long as once every 96 months (in rarer cases).
For some procedures - typically larger, more costly ones like a full set of dentures - coverage is only available once.
Broadly speaking, you won't be getting a blank cheque to set yourself up with a Hollywood-level smile, but you should be getting enough to receive annual coverage for basic scans, exams, cleaning, and preventive oral health care, as well as infrequent coverage (once every few years) for repairs to your teeth, crowns, or dentures.
Coverage might become more generous or tight-fisted in the years to come, since - as we noted in our original post - the federal government is still grappling with the true cost of offering nationwide dental coverage.
Either way, that's out of the hands of patients and dental practices.
As the plan's original announcement stated, there's $4.5 billion in “ongoing, permanent funding” available, so the best thing you can do is make use of the coverage you're eligible for.
Here in the Tri-Cities, more than 1 out of every 10 residents is a senior, and - with many on fixed incomes - we’re expecting (and seeing) a lot of local interest in the CDCP. Since the plan officially became available to seniors in Canada just a few months ago, over 250,000 have already received care according to program officials.
More than a handful of our own older patients have asked about the plan and expressed relief at being able to receive at least some coverage for their dental care.
With that being said, as millions of Canadians wait for the CDCP to open to them, some experts are cautioning that finding a provider may be harder than people expect.
Earlier this year, the B.C. Dental Association estimated that just over one third of BC residents currently don’t have dental insurance, and that low-income seniors are likely to represent a significant proportion of those residents.
As the CDCP launches, there are concerns that dental offices simply won’t have the number of hygienists and support staff needed to keep pace with the added demand from as many as 1 million new patients by 2025.
If you've submitted your application and are waiting for it to be approved, there are a few things you can do in the meantime.
Review the CDCP Dental Benefits Guide
Here's a link to it: Canadian Dental Care Plan - Dental Benefits Guide. It'll give you a basic idea of how frequently you'll be able to receive coverage. With that knowledge, you can ask your dental provider how to best manage your oral health using the coverage available to you.
Prepare a list of questions for your consultation
If it's been a while since your last dental visit, it's a good idea to prepare for it in advance.
The experience can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, leading patients to momentarily forget questions they'd been wondering about. To avoid that, take note of areas in your mouth where you have concerns, and write down any questions you have about products or procedures that you think might improve your everyday oral health.
Create a dental practice shortlist
If you don't currently have a dentist, it's a good idea to research local practices and find one that has a good reputation, convenient location, and offers the coverage-eligible treatments you're looking for. That way, once you receive your welcome package, you'll know which one to visit.
Seniors are among the first major groups to be eligible for the CDCP, so you have a head start in finding an ideal practice to register with.
Once the program opens to all remaining eligible Canadians, spots may be more limited as people look to use the care they're eligible for, so forward-thinking seniors will use their head start wisely!
If you’re looking to find a local dentist before the CDCP expands its coverage, it’d be our privilege to care for your smile.
We’re a little bit different from other dental offices. With us, you’ll have a team of 5 experienced dentists looking after your smile. Not independent dentists working out of the same clinic, but an actual team that shares its expertise.
You can register here at Glen Dental Centre, or at our sister dental office, Poco Comfort Dentistry — whichever one is more convenient for you. Either way, you’ll be getting complete, one-stop dentistry with all of the conveniences you expect like extended hours, direct billing, and financing.
If you’re ready to join us, you can register by calling (604) 552-2241 or booking your first visit online.
Get in touch with us!
(604) 552-2241
info@glendentalcentre.com
2975 Glen Drive, Coquitlam, BC V3B 2P7
