Affordable dental care could finally be on the horizon for Canadian parents.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that eligible parents and guardians could receive up to $650 per year if the proposed Canadian Dental Benefit is approved.
One-in-five Canadians reported in a 2018 survey that they avoid the dentist because of the cost and one third of Canadians do not have insurance that covers dental.
This is just the first stage in a comprehensive national dental care program that is still being developed and will cover children 12 and under who are eligible.
Parents and guardians without dental insurance will be with an adjusted net income under $90,000 per year could receive money in three tiers for their children under 12:
- $650 per child in a family whose adjusted net income is under $70,000
- $390 per child in a family whose adjusted net income is between $70,000 and $79,999
- Or $260 per child in a family whose adjusted net income is between $80,000 and $89,999
The government has set December 1st, 2022 as the target date to have this first stage of the program implemented pending on Parliamentary approval and Royal Assent of enabling legislation according to a media release.
Retroactive expenses will be covered back to October 1st, 2022.
Parents and guardians will be able to apply for the benefit through the Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) website beginning on the date of implementation.
The federal government claims to be committed to implementing a long-term dental plan for all who are not insured with an adjusted net income of less than $90,000 by 2025.
All this information on the newly proposed Canadian Dental Benefit was announced on the same day as Trudeau announced the doubling of GST credit for the next six months.
Related:
Canadians rejoice: Your next GST rebate could be double the amount in October
