Question Period Note: CANADIAN DENTAL CARE PLAN – SERVICE CANADA SERVICE DELIVERY

How is Service Canada managing the application and renewal process for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?

The Canadian Dental Care Plan has significantly improved affordability and access to dental care for millions of Canadians across the country.

The government of Canada is making sure that publicly funded programs like the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) are administered with integrity in accordance with the eligibility criteria and with responsible stewardship of public funds.

All eligible Canadians now have access to the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

IF PRESSED (Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) calculation error)

An error was recently discovered with respect to how income was calculated for some applicants, at the time their eligibility for Canadian Dental Care Plan was being determined.

A very small number, approximately 1% of active plan members have either been found to be ineligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan or have been assessed at an incorrect co-payment level due to an error with the calculation of income. A system fix has already been implemented to correct this error.

Impacted individuals were notified of changes affecting their CDCP starting on October 17.

Impacted individuals will not need to repay the difference in co-payment nor any amounts covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan for dental care received prior to October 24, 2025.

Canadian Dental Care Plan members who do not yet have a My Service Canada Account are encouraged to create one to receive important communication associated with their Canadian Dental Care Plan coverage. They can also call Service Canada's Canadian Dental Care Plan line.

More than 5.5 million Canadians are currently covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan line while more than 3 million already received care, saving on average $800 annually.

IF PRESSED (Member eligibility review)

Service Canada supports Health Canada in ensuring only eligible Canadians receive access to the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

Health Canada has established procedures to review eligibility of clients while respecting privacy and security protocols and, standards of Government of Canada programs.

These efforts will help to protect the personal information of Canadians and safeguard taxpayers’ dollars.

Budget 2023 announced $13.0 billion over five years, starting in 2023-2024, and $4.4 billion to implement the CDCP.

It is estimated that up to ten-and-a-half million individuals may be eligible for the plan once fully implemented.

On behalf of Health Canada, Service Canada:

Promotes the plan and provides information through targeted communication efforts and by responding to Canadians’ enquiries.

Accepts applications and processes CDCP eligibility based on criteria determined by Health Canada. One criterion is Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI), which must be less than $90k. CRA calculates AFNI and advises Service Canada if applicants meet this criterion.

Communicates enrolment information to applicants and to a Third-Party Administrator, Sun Life.

Provides application services and dedicated client support via call centres, digital services, and through its community outreach network across Canada.

Sun Life delivers the dental plan coverage to Canadians through a contract established by Health Canada and Public Services & Procurement Canada.

The CDCP specialised call centre has responded to over 2.5M inquiries about the Plan since its launch in December 2023.

In March 2025, Service Canada launched for the first time its annual renewal system, enabling existing plan members to renew their coverage online or by phone.

In May 2025, the largest cohort to date (adults aged 18-64 years) began to onboard to Service Canada’s application system.

Details on CDCP Applications:

For the current 2025-26 Benefit Year, from June 1 to October 21, 2025, Service Canada has received 7,012,920 completed applications, including:

3,145,077 from individuals aged 65 and over.

914,899 for children under the age of 18; and

2,952,944 from adults aged 18 to 64.

In March 2025, just over 3 million (3,356,973) invitations to renew coverage for the

2025-2026 period were sent out to eligible Canadians.

Of the 3,257,513 total renewal applications completed, just over 88% (2,870,574) are eligible, suggesting communication efforts on who can apply, when, and how have been strong.

Canadians can apply for dental care online via My Service Canada Account, at canada.ca/dental, by phone, and In-Person assistance is available at select scheduled outreach events. Additionally, Service Canada Centres provide general information about the plan and can direct clients to on-site Citizen Access Workstations (CAWs) to apply. General information is also available using the eService Canada Service Request Form.

he Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is led by Health Canada and aims to reduce cost barriers to oral health care to the greatest extent possible, with a focus on diagnostic, preventative, and restorative services.

On behalf of Health Canada, Service Canada receives, processes and manages applications for eligibility. An applicant’s Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) must be less then $90k/year to qualify for CDCP. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is responsible for calculating the AFNI.

As of October 21, 2025, over 5 million (5,440,387) Canadians have been enrolled for 2025-2026 alone, and over 3.13 million clients have received care since applications opened in December 2023. So far, this fiscal year (April 2025), Sun Life has paid out over $2 billion in approved claims.

Through its Community Outreach and Liaison Service, Service Canada promotes the Canadian Dental Care Plan and assists vulnerable populations in applying for the plan. As of October 21, 2025, the department conducted over 34,000 liaison services with community organizations, and facilitated over 6,500 outreach events, reaching approximately 144,000 participants to raise awareness of and assist with the Canadian Dental Care Plan.

Canadians can apply for dental care online, by phone, at a Service Canada Centre, scheduled outreach site, or at a community outreach event.