The Government of Canada
opens up simplified process for all dental care providers to
provide care to CDCP members
DARTMOUTH, NS, July 8, 2024
/CNW/ - The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is one of the largest
social programs in Canadian history and, once fully implemented,
will provide oral health care for up to 9 million eligible
Canadians. As of today, more than 2.1 million Canadians have
already been approved under the Plan and approximately 250,000
members have received care under the CDCP.
The Government is 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.
To date, close to 12,000 providers have signed up to the CDCP
and more continue to join every day. We have heard that some
providers prefer not to formally sign on to the program but would
still like to see CDCP patients. Starting today, 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. Once a claim is approved,
providers will receive reimbursement from Sun Life within 48 hours
initially, and we will move towards a 24-hour turnaround
time.
This means that Canadians covered by the CDCP will be able to
see the provider of their choice, as long as their provider agrees
to bill Sun Life directly. For those who don't 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 tool to find providers who have confirmed
their participation in the CDCP.
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.
Providers play a vital role in delivering oral health care, and
the CDCP is allowing more Canadian residents to benefit from their
care. The Government of Canada is
committed to working with partners to improve access and provide
more affordable dental care to eligible Canadians across the
country.
For more information, visit Canada.ca/dental.
Quotes
"Allowing providers options for how they provide care to CDCP
clients means that more people will be able to receive affordable
dental care. We are dedicated to collaborating closely with oral
health partners to make sure that all CDCP members enjoy equitable
access to affordable care. This is something every Canadian
deserves."
The Honourable Mark Holland
Minister of Health
"Dental care is an integral part of our health and well-being.
We're making it easier for more Canadian families to access quality
dental care. This change reduces out-of-pocket costs for families
and speeds up reimbursements, making dental services more
accessible and affordable across the country. It's another concrete
step towards fairness for every generation."
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National
Defence
"I'm hearing from folks in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour who are
getting the dental care they need for the first time in decades —
this program matters. And making it even easier for oral health
providers to provide care to Canadian Dental Care patients is the
right thing to do."
Darren Fisher
Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole
Harbour
"Providing the flexibility for oral health providers to help
Canadian Dental Care Plan clients on a claim-by-claim basis makes
it easier for those needing dental care to get the services they
deserve. Our focus is to make sure that Canadians have access to
essential oral health services."
The Honourable Terry Beech
Minister of Citizens' Services
"More than 2.1 million Canadians are now enrolled in the
Canadian Dental Care Plan and over 250,000 of them have had access
to the care they need, thanks to the participation of oral care
providers. We look forward to developing new partnerships with even
more oral health providers to help Canadians access affordable oral
health care."
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Public Services and Procurement
"We look forward to working with even more providers across
Canada to ensure claims are
processed and Canadians have access to the care they need. Oral
health care providers are critical to the CDCP, and we're
thrilled to provide more ways for them to participate in this
important and life-changing program."
Dave Jones
President, Sun Life Health
Quick Facts
- The claim submission process is the same regardless of how the
provider chooses to participate in the plan – they can submit
claims directly to Sun Life and be reimbursed either by Electronic
Funds Transfer (EFT) within 48 hours (moving toward a 24-hour
turnaround time) if they have a Sun Life Direct account, or by
receiving a cheque on a monthly basis.
- For providers who have formally signed up, there is no change
or impact to their participation or how they file claims.
- CDCP provider participation is entirely voluntary. Oral health
providers eligible to participate and who can bill for services
include:
- dentists
- denturists
- dental hygienists
- dental specialists
- For more information on how providers can participate or see
CDCP patients on a claim-by-claim basis, please visit
Canada.ca/dental or Sun Life.
- Oral health providers can find information on how to submit
claims as well as a side-by-side comparison of the two provider
participation options here.
- To qualify for the CDCP, you must be a Canadian resident with
an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000, not have access to
employer/pension-sponsored or private dental insurance and have
filed your 2023 tax return.
- The CDCP is now open to eligible seniors, adults with a
valid Disability Tax Credit certificate, and children under 18. All
remaining eligible Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64
will be able to apply online in 2025.
- Those who successfully apply to the CDCP will receive a welcome
package within approximately three months of their application,
which will include the coverage start date (benefit effective
date). You can track the status of your application online.
Associated Links
Canadian Dental Care Plan – Apply
CDCP Provider Search Tool
OHAF Call for proposals
SOURCE Health Canada (HC)