Canada’s Dental Plan Is Expanding. Who Is Eligible Now? – National

The federal dental care plan is entering the second phase of its planned rollout, Health Minister Mark Holland said in an announcement Thursday.

“For families with children aged 18 and under, and for individuals with disabilities, this service is now available to you. You can sign up today and you can get the help your family needs,” Holland said.

According to the program criteria, eligibility is for households with a net household income of less than $90,000.

Holland said the program had already helped a large number of people.

“In six weeks, 200,000 people received care. Nearly 11,500 providers are participating, representing approximately 40 percent of providers nationwide. Almost all dental hygienists, almost all denturists, are participating,” he said.

Holland said the federal government is working with provinces and territories to manage the phased rollout.

“We are coordinating these benefits with provinces and territories to ensure that this is a seamless experience and to ensure that the core principle of this program, which is so important, is that it is based on medical needs,” he said. .

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Dental hygienists encourage seniors to seek treatment under the Canadian Dental Care Plan

The federal government unveiled its dental care plan last December and announced the rollout would take place in phases.

Applications for dental insurance will be open for the first time from December 2023 for seniors aged 87 and over. The application will then be expanded in phases per age category.

From January, seniors aged 77 to 86 could register. Then in February, seniors aged 72 to 76 could register. From March, seniors aged 70 to 71 could register.

In May, the government said seniors aged 65 to 69 could sign up.

Thursday’s announcement marked the penultimate phase of the rollout, and starting in 2025, all remaining eligible Canadian residents will be able to sign up online.

Once enrolled, eligible Canadian residents will receive a welcome package from Sun Life that includes a membership card and a start date for when their oral health care services will be covered.

– with files from Global’s Katie Dangerfield.

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