Canada Dental Care Plan in Vancouver

Dental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, with several dental diseases linked to health issues such as cardiovascular disease. That being said, dental care should not be overlooked as a part of the healthcare system. Getting access to proper and effective oral health treatment and education can help many people improve and maintain a good quality of life.

However, dental care remains to be a challenge for many Canadians, largely because of the high costs. To address this concern, the Government of Canada has introduced one of its health initiatives with the Canada Dental Care Plan.

What is the new Canada Dental Care Plan?

The new Canada Dental Care Plan was announced in 2023 as a part of the government’s strategy to enhance public health and reduce healthcare disparities. The goal of this plan is to provide accessibility and affordability for preventive and essential dental treatments.

The plan specifically targets low to middle-income families who have financial barriers and lack the support of an insurance policy to cover their dental care needs. Financial assistance is allocated among eligible Canadian residents to fully or partially cover their dental expenses.

With this focus on proper dental care for all, the Canada Dental Care Plan effectively promises improved oral health outcomes for all its beneficiaries.

Who is eligible for the plan in Vancouver?

There are several eligibility requirements that an individual or family must meet in order to be covered under the Canada Dental Care Plan. The plan is designed to assist specifically those without access to dental insurance and whose income falls below a certain threshold.

Among the eligibility criteria are:

• Income level

You must have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000. The plan is structured to provide full coverage for families earning less than $70,000, and partial coverage for those earning between $70,000 – $90,000.

• Lack of Insurance Coverage

You must not have access to provide dental insurance. This includes employment benefits or a family member’s employment benefit, student organizations, pension benefits, and privately purchased insurance.

• Residency

You must be a Canadian resident and have successfully filed your tax return in the previous year.

What services are covered?

The Canada Dental Care Plan covers a wide range of oral health care services involving treatment, prevention, and maintenance of oral health. The coverage for its beneficiaries includes:

• Preventive care – regular check-ups, cleaning, fluoride application, X-rays, sealants
• Basic treatments – temporary and permanent fillings, tooth extraction, pain control
• Emergency dental treatments
• Specialized dental care – orthodontics, root canal treatment and retreatment, pulpotomies, complete and removable dentures, deep scaling, non-surgical gum disease management
• Oral surgery – removal of teeth and roots, surgical removal of tumours and cysts, treatment of jaw fractures, abscess drainage
• Sedation services – conscious sedation, general anaesthesia

It is important to note that certain treatments, such as root canal retreatment, crowns, posts for crowns, and some denture procedures, require pre-authorization before the treatment. This means that prior approval from your oral health provider is needed to confirm plan coverage.

How much is covered?

The coverage extended to beneficiaries of the CDCP depends on your adjusted family net income. If partial coverage is determined, excess to the fees to be covered by the CDCP will be shouldered by you. Here is the expected coverage based on your income:

• Lower than $70,000

100% full coverage by the CDCP according to the established fees

• Between $70,000 and $79,999

60% coverage by the CDCP, 40% personal coverage

• Between $80,000 and $89,999

40% coverage by the CDCP, 60% personal coverage

Additional charges may also apply in situations such as higher cost of oral health care services that are more than what CDCP will reimburse based on the established CDCP fees and if you agree to receive care that the plan does not cover.

How do you apply for the new Canada Dental Care Plan?

Application for the Canada Dental Care Plan will open in phases depending on your year of birth. Upon checking your application schedule, you may easily apply online via the Canada Dental Care Plan website provided that you meet the eligibility criteria.

Fill out the details required in the website application. Aside from general information, you should have your social insurance number, home and mailing address, list of dental coverage if applicable, and tax returns with notice of assessment available.

However, if you are unable to apply online, you may call 1-833-537-4342 for assistance.

After application, you will need to wait for approval which can vary for everyone. You can check the status of your application online via the CDCP website. Prepare your application code or client number which should be available on the confirmation page after you send your online information. If you are checking via phone, have your SIN and other personal details ready for verification.

How do you find a clinic that is part of the CDCP?

Sun Life will manage the Canada Dental Care Plan for the Government of Canada. Upon application and approval, you will receive a welcome package from Sun Life that should include the date you can start seeing an oral health provider under the CDCP.

If you are looking for a participating clinic, you can easily access the CDCP Provider Search available on Sun Life’s website. This should list available dental providers according to name, specialty, and location. The search should include results within a 50km radius of your preferred location.

Among the participating clinics in the CDCP is Arbutus Station Dental. If you are within the Kitsilano, Vancouver area, we are proud to offer eligible citizens under the CDCP with effective dental care to improve and maintain their healthy smiles.

Conclusion 

Dental care should be a privilege that everybody should have access to – this is the ultimate goal of the Canada Dental Care Plan. With this initiative, those who fall under a certain income bracket and cannot afford private insurance can be provided for by the government to help them maintain a lifetime of good oral health.

Contact our team at Arbutus Station Dental to learn more about the Canada Dental Care Plan and your dental health benefits today.