Canada’s Health Minister Kamal Khera announced Saturday that the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will begin accepting applications from its “largest cohort” of eligible dental patients aged 18 to 64 in May.
The program, which launched for seniors in December 2023, has expanded in phases to cover children and people with disabilities. Its final rollout phase was expected to begin early this year, but Khera’s announcement in Newmarket, Ont., confirmed the timeline moving forward.
Applications will open in stages: Canadians aged 55 to 64 can apply starting May 1, followed by those aged 18 to 34 on May 15, and those aged 35 to 54 on May 29. Coverage could begin as early as June 1 for those approved. The plan is available to Canadians with household incomes under $90,000 who do not have private dental insurance.
“In total, we’re expecting an additional 4.5 million Canadians to be eligible for dental coverage,” Khera said, emphasizing that “dental care is health care.”
Since launching the CDCP, Khera said, about 1.7 million Canadians have been able to visit a dentist or oral health professional. “Think about that for a moment—1.7 million Canadians. And I think all of us have different stories from our own communities about how this is life-changing,” she said.
She added that the program is “helping people regain their self-confidence, sense of dignity, and improving their overall health.” As a nurse, she said, she believes preventive care, such as routine dental visits, is key to transforming the health-care system.
To date, about 98 per cent of dentists, denturists, dental hygienists and dental specialists in Canada are participating in the program, according to Khera.
The announcement comes a day before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to call a federal election.
The federal Conservatives have not said whether they would continue funding the program, which was introduced as part of a supply-and-confidence agreement between the Liberals and the NDP.
CDHA welcomes expansion
Meanwhile, the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) welcomed the expansion of the CDCP, adding that it will eventually reduce ER visits and ease the strain on the health care system. From 2001 to 2015, more than 70,000 visits were made to physicians in Ontario alone for dental-related issues, for example.
“The broader issues of access to oral health care and the financial burden of oral diseases and conditions on the health care system must be addressed,” said CDHA president Alexandra Sheppard. “As primary care providers, dental hygienists treat oral diseases and offer preventive therapies. They see first-hand the direct, positive impact of investments in oral health care by the federal government. That’s why we applaud Minister Khera’s announcement today.”
Summary of application dates, eligibility criteria
(With Canadian Press files)