The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) mistakenly granted coverage to thousands of Canadians who didn’t meet eligibility requirements, says the government.
On Oct. 21, Health Canada said in a statement that thousands of Canadians who were initially approved for the CDCP didn’t actually meet income requirements to qualify for the program.
“An error was recently discovered with respect to how income was calculated for some applicants, at the time their eligibility for CDCP was being determined,” states Health Canada. “A system fix has already been implemented to correct this error.”
The mistake resulted in one per cent (around 70,000) active members being approved or placed in the wrong co-payment level. The government said that starting Oct. 17, it began notifying those impacted, with changes to their CDCP set to take effect on Oct. 24.
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However, those who were affected by this change don’t need to worry about the cost of any treatment they’ve already received.
“Impacted individuals will not need to repay the difference in co-payment nor any amounts covered by the CDCP for dental care received prior to Oct. 24, 2025,” reads the statement.
The CDCP was launched in 2023 and aims to make dental care more accessible for those without dental insurance. To qualify, you must be a Canadian resident who doesn’t have access to dental insurance. You and your spouse or common-law partner must have filed your tax returns in Canada, and your family’s net income must be less than $90,000. You can check the CDCP website for its eligibility criteria.
Over 5.5 million Canadians are covered by the CDCP, and three million have already received care under the program. This has resulted in an average savings of $800 each year.
Canadians are advised to first verify their coverage at every visit. Since Canadians’ eligibility can change while under the CDCP during a benefit period, it’s essential for health providers and members to check coverage before billing or providing services.
CDCP members are also urged to create a My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to ensure they receive important information about their coverage. Members can also call Service Canada at 1 (833) 537-4342 or visit a Service Canada Centre for information.
