Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public
Services and Procurement, Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for
Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy
and Natural Resources and to the Minister of Official Languages,
and Viviane Lapointe, Member of
Parliament for Sudbury, announced
that eligible children under the age of 18 and adults with a valid
Disability Tax Credit certificate can apply for the Canadian Dental
Care Plan (CDCP).
SUDBURY,
ON, July 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Since its launch,
more than 2.1 million seniors have been approved to receive
coverage under the Plan and since May
1, more than 250,000 have already received care for services
like cleaning, fillings, dentures from close to 12,000
providers.
With applications now open for two new groups of Canadians,
another 1.2 million people will have access to improved dental
care. This means approximately 938,000 children and close to
183,000 adults with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate will
have more affordable access to the oral health care that they
need.
The Government of Canada is
also taking action to make it easier for oral health providers
including dentists, dental hygienists, denturists or dental
specialists, to treat patients and submit CDCP claims. As of
July 8, eligible providers in
Canada can now provide services to
CDCP clients on a claim-by-claim basis without formally signing
up.
To limit out-of-pocket costs for CDCP patients, providers seeing
a CDCP patient will need to agree to bill Sun Life directly and
accept payment for services covered under the CDCP, regardless of
how they choose to participate.
If CDCP clients do not already have a provider, they can talk to
a dentist, dental hygienist, denturist or dental specialist in
their community or consult Sun Life's CDCP Provider Search to
find a provider.
Successful CDCP applicants will receive a welcome package from
Sun Life within approximately three months of their application,
which will include an overview of their coverage, their member
card, and their coverage start date. Expenses for treatments
provided under the CDCP will not be covered prior to the coverage
start date.
CDCP patients may have to pay additional charges, in addition to
their co-payment, if applicable, depending on the services received
and the cost of the treatment. Before receiving any services, CDCP
patients should always ask their provider about any additional
costs that won't be covered by the plan.
Oral health care is an integral part of our overall health. No
one should have to choose between taking care of their teeth and
paying their bills. The CDCP is going to help make dental care more
affordable for up to nine million Canadians who are estimated to
currently not have coverage.
For more information, visit Canada.ca/dental.
Quotes
"Expanding applications to children under the age of 18 and to
adults with valid Disability Tax Credits will mean that more than
one million additional Canadians will have affordable access to the
oral health care they need. This is about fairness and making sure
people have access to the care they need to be healthy and have the
dignity they deserve."
The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
"Oral health is crucial for your overall well-being.
Applications to the Canadian Dental Care Plan have been seamless
with more than two million successful applicants since its launch
in December 2023. Our primary goal is
to ensure that eligible individuals with disabilities, children
under 18, and seniors have access to essential oral health
services. Service Canada is fully
prepared to deliver high-quality and smooth client service as
Canadians continue to apply."
The Honourable Terry Beech
Minister of Citizens' Services
"Canadians with disabilities and youth can now apply for the
Canadian Dental Care Plan! This will provide almost 1.2 million
Canadians with dental coverage, in addition to the 2.1 million
seniors who have already received coverage. By asking the very
wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes we're delivering historic
programs like the Canadian Dental Care Plan that is putting money
back in the pockets of Canadians while also making our country
fairer for everyone."
The Honourable Kamal Khera
Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
"Fairness for every generation starts with ensuring every child
in Canada has the best start in
life. That's why we've made transformative investments such as
affordable child care and the Canada Child Benefit. Increasing
access to dental health care to all children under 18 builds on our
plan to support families and their children across the country,
while ensuring every generation can reach their full
potential."
The Honourable Jenna Sudds
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
"Today marks another major milestone in ensuring Canadians get
better access to affordable dental care. Following the successful
rollout of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for seniors,
children and youth under 18 and adults living with a disability are
now able to enroll to receive the oral health care they need and
deserve. Nobody should have to delay getting essential dental care
because they can't pay for it, and the CDCP is changing that."
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Public Services and Procurement
"Individuals who may be eligible for the disability tax credit
(DTC) can apply for it with the Canada Revenue Agency, even if they
do not have taxable income. Being approved for the DTC can help
access other federal programs like the Canadian Dental Care
Plan."
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau
Minister of National Revenue
"The Canadian Dental Care Plan is changing lives. So no one has
to live with toothaches, gum disease, or old dentures. We're
expanding the Plan to help kids under 18 and persons with
disabilities get the care they need."
The Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr.
Minister of Labour and Seniors
"As a mom, I understand how crucial regular dental checkups are
for our kids. With the expansion of the Canadian Dental Care Plan,
more young Canadians will have access to the dental care they need
without adding financial stress to their families. This plan is
about fairness and giving every child the best start in life. It's
about reducing barriers and ensuring a healthier future for
all."
The Honourable Marci Ien
Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
"Expanding the Canada Dental Care Plan will provide essential
oral health care to countless families in Nickel Belt, Northern Ontario and Canadians across the
country. Good oral health is a cornerstone of overall well-being
and by removing financial barriers to dental care, we are taking a
significant step towards greater health equity and a brighter
future for a broader demographic!"
Marc G. Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt and
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources
"Ensuring all Canadians have access to essential dental care
remains a top priority for our government. Dental care is
health care, yet it has been out of reach for far too many. By
making dental care more accessible and affordable, we are investing
in the long-term health of our communities. Already we've
seen the impact of the Canadian Dental Care Plan here in
Sudbury, and with the latest
expansion of eligibility, even more community members will now have
access to critical services."
Viviane Lapointe, Member of
Parliament for Sudbury
Quick facts
- Eligible seniors aged 65 and over can continue to apply to the
CDCP using the online application.
- In December 2022, the Government
of Canada launched the interim
Canada Dental Benefit (CDB) to help lower dental costs for eligible
families. The CDB helped more than 450,000 children under 12
receive oral health care. With the CDB having ended on June 30th, those parents and guardians
are now invited to apply to the CDCP for the children under their
care.
- All remaining eligible Canadian residents between the ages of
18 and 64 will be able to apply online in 2025.
- CDCP provider participation is voluntary. Oral health providers
eligible to participate and who can bill for services include:
- dentists
- denturists
- dental hygienists
- dental specialists
- Earlier this month, the Government of Canada launched the Oral Health Access
Fund (OHAF). This Fund will support projects that aim to
improve training and capacity for oral health care providers,
connect people to oral health care, and deliver prevention and
education efforts to improve oral health.
Associated Links
- Canadian Dental Care Plan – Apply
- CDCP Provider Search Tool
- OHAF Call for proposals
Follow us on X (Twitter)
Follow us on Facebook
SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada