Last year, the Canadian government launched the initial phase of a new dental plan to ensure access to dental care, beginning with coverage for children aged 12 and under.
Now, seniors are the next group to receive some help covering dental health costs from the Canadian government.
As of Monday, December 11th, seniors who are 87-years-old and up can apply to receive coverage if they don’t already have dental on their insurance policies.
The plan is to have access to cheap or free dental care—similar to Canada’s free health care—by 2025.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will help approximately nine million residents who have an annual family income of less than $90,000 receive the dental care they need.
In the coming months, seniors aged 65 and older will also gain access to the CDCP.
In January, those aged 77 to 86 will be able to apply, followed by those aged 72 to 76 in February, then those aged 70 to 71 in March with the goal of having anyone aged 65 and older able to apply beginning this coming May.
“Dental care shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s basic health care,” said Seamus O’Regan Jr., Canadian Minister of Labour and Seniors.
“Seniors are often on fixed incomes and have more health care bills, so they’re a priority in our dental plan. We want every Canadian to age in health, in comfort, and in dignity.”
The government says that people in these age groups should have received a letter in the mail based on the address they have registered with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) and can apply over the phone.
Beginning in June 2024, people with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under the age of 18 will be able to apply online.
Following that, all remaining eligible residents—those between the ages of 18 and 64—will be able to apply online starting in 2025.
The CDCP will cover services such as scaling (cleaning), polishing, exams, x-rays, fillings, removable dentures and root canal treatments, among others.
Canada says that the program will be reviewed annually to ensure it is serving Canadians as best as possible.
