More than a million Canadians have now received dental care under the new public insurance plan, with each patient receiving an average of $730 on oral health-care services.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) helps cover the cost of dental visits for people who don’t have access to private insurance and have a household income under $90,000.
The plan has covered $732 million in dental expenses so far, Health Canada said Thursday.
The program currently covers seniors, children under 18 years of age and people with a valid disability tax credit. So far, 2.7 million Canadians have been approved for coverage. The plan will expand massively to cover an expected total of nine million Canadians starting in 2025.
The CDCP currently covers oral health-care services including cleanings, filings and dentures. As of Nov. 1, it will expand to cover more complex procedures that require pre-approval, like crowns and the initial placement of partial dentures.
After low uptake initially from dentists, Health Canada says 89 per cent of oral health-care providers — or 22,340 in total across the country — are now accepting patients through the program.
Insurance claims submitted on paper will also be allowed starting tomorrow. Until now, only providers who could submit the claims online could participate.
