Government of Canada Launches the Canadian Dental Care Plan

Oral health is an important part of overall health. Having regular dental check-ups, brushing and flossing teeth daily, and having healthy habits including good nutrition, making water your drink of choice, and avoiding smoking or chewing tobacco are important steps to take care of your oral health.

The Government of Canada has launched the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for eligible Canadian residents who:

• have an annual adjusted family net income of less than $90,000 and
• don't have access to dental insurance

CDCP applications will open in phases, starting with seniors. Letters including a personalized application code and instructions on how to apply are now being sent to seniors 72 and over. If you are between the ages of 65 and 69, applications will open online starting May 2024.

• Applications for other age groups will open in phases
• Check your eligibility before applying

To learn more about eligibility, services available and to apply, check out canada.ca.

Further details on oral health services that will be covered under the CDCP to prevent and treat oral health issues and diseases have been recently released. The majority of services covered under the CDCP will be available as of May 2024 when the first group of eligible individuals will begin to receive services. Before receiving any oral health services, people covered under the CDCP should confirm that their provider is participating in the program and whether there may be any costs that will not be covered by the plan.

If you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 12, and you do not have access to dental insurance, you may already be eligible for the Canada Dental Benefit (CDB). This benefit is available until June 30, 2024.

• Check your eligibility before applying
• See here for a factsheet with more information

If you or any other Jamati members you know have any questions or need help applying to the CDCP or the CDB, please feel free to contact the ACCESS LINE.

Resources:

• For more information on this topic, check out this recently released podcast episode by The Huberman Lab 
• Oral health for children including preventing tooth decay and cleaning your child’s teeth
• Oral health for seniors including the role of oral health in your overall health, and oral care tips