Good news! As of June 2024, the eligibility criteria for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) have been extended from seniors aged 65 and over to include all children under 18 as well as adults receiving the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). Since people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) can apply for the DTC, you could be one of the Canadians eligible for the DSRN right now.
The Government of Canada implemented this plan to provide affordable dental care to all Canadian residents who don’t have access to dental insurance and whose adjusted net family income is less than $90,000.
As of 2025, the CDCP is expected to be accessible to all remaining eligible Canadian residents (in addition to the three groups mentioned above).
How to apply
First, make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria.
- You don’t have dental insurance.
If you have private dental insurance coverage that you took out individually or that you have access to through your employer, your spouse, a student or professional association, a family member’s pension or retirement benefits, you are NOT eligible. Exception: If you have dental coverage through a government social program, you may be eligible for the CDCP.
- Your adjusted net annual family income is less than $90,000.
Your adjusted family net income includes your total income and your spouse’s; consider all your sources of income, such as employment, Registered Education Savings Plan (RESPs) and retirement income, minus eligible deductions such as Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions, childcare fees, the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs). For instance, if your adjusted family net income is greater than $90,000 in 2023, you’re NOT eligible for the plan in 2024.
- You’re a Canadian resident and you filed an income tax return last year.
- You receive the DTC. If you don’t receive the DTC yet, read our blog to find out how you can submit a request.
You can apply online or, if not possible, by phone.
To find out more about how to apply for the CDCP and what you need to know, visit this Government of Canada page on the Dental Care Plan.
Find an oral healthcare provider
Once your application is approved, you’ll receive an information package within three months from Sun Life, the insurance company that administers the CDCP program. You must wait for Sun Life’s welcome letter before making an appointment with an oral healthcare provider.
Not all dental clinics participate in the plan. As a precaution, ask your oral healthcare provider if they accept CDCP clients. If they don’t, or if you don’t have a provider yet, you can search participating providers by region and specialty on the Sun Life website.
You don’t have to worry about paying the full cost of your care up front, as Sun Life will reimburse your dentist or other dental specialist directly. However, you will have to pay any amount not covered by the plan directly to your provider.
Take care of these teeth!
Having access to the CDCP is very good for people with T1D. People with diabetes are more likely to develop certain oral health problems such as more frequent cavities and gum inflammation. Seeing your dentist regularly is one way to keep your teeth healthy!
To find out more about T1D and oral health, as well as good oral hygiene tips, read or re-read our blog article Oral health and type 1 diabetes: what do you need to know?.
Reference:
Government of Canada. Canadian Dental Care Plan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html.
Written by: Nathalie Kinnard, scientific writer and research assistant
