Canadian Dental Care Plan
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is a federal initiative to help make dental care more affordable for eligible residents.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
- Not have access to dental insurance
- Have filed your tax returns in Canada for the previous tax year
- Have an adjusted family income of less than $90,000
- Family income – any universal childcare benefit (UCCB) or registered disability savings plan (RDSP) income received + any UCCB & RDSP amounts repaid
- Be a Canadian resident
You must meet these requirements each year to continue to qualify.
How to Apply
The CDCP is opening in phases, based on which group you are part of:
- Aged 65 or older – can apply now
- Adults with valid Disability Tax Credit certificate for 2023 – can apply now
- Children under 18 – can apply now
- All other eligible residents – will be able to apply in 2025
To apply, you will need (for each applicant & your spouse/common-law, if applicable):
- Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Date of birth
- Full Name
- Home and mailing address
- List of dental coverage through government social programs, if applicable
- Your Notice of Assessment for your 2023 tax return
You are encouraged to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you can phone 1-833-537-4342 (for TTY, call 1-833-677-6262).
You can check the status of your CDCP application online or by phoning 1-833-537-4342.
Some important notes:
- Do not submit more than 1 application
- If are applying for children, submit 1 application that includes all of your children
- If you are already enrolled in CDCP, your current coverage will remain the same until June 30, 2025. You do not need to reapply unless your access to dental insurance has changed.
What Happens Once You’re Approved
You will be enrolled in the CDCP and Sun Life will send you a welcome package with your member card and benefit start date. You must book your services after the start date in order for the services to be covered under CDCP.
To find an oral health provider, you can use the online tool or call Sun Life at 1-888-888-8110 for help. It is important to confirm that the provider will accept a CDCP client when booking an appointment.
Be sure to know your coverage start date and the cost of your co-payment, if applicable. Once you select a provider, be sure to ask if there are any additional costs you may have to pay. Sun Life will not pay you back, so do not pay the full amount for services in advance.
What Services Are Covered?
The CDCP will cover a portion of the cost for a wide range of services. These include diagnostic & preventive services, basic services, major services, anesthesia/sedation services, and orthodontic services. For more information on services that are covered, please visit the federal webpage.
The CDCP may not cover the full amount of services. For instance, if:
- Your adjusted family net income is $70,000 to $89,999
- The cost of service is more than what the CDCP will reimburse for that service
- You & your provider agree to services that the CDCP does not cover
For more information on coverage and co-payments, please visit the federal webpage.