Question Period Note: Dental Care - Concerns that the Canada Dental Benefit will duplicate coverage provided through provincial and territorial dental care programs

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• The Canada Dental Benefit is intended to help parents with children under 12 manage the costs for their children’s dental care that they would otherwise be out of pocket for. This is an important measure that the Government of Canada is taking to make life more affordable for the youngest Canadians who need it most.
• This interim benefit is intended to complement and not duplicate coverage provided by existing dental programs delivered by provincial governments, while we work on a longer-term solution.
• Applicants covered by provincial or territorial programs will be eligible for the Canada Dental Benefit if they meet all of the criteria to qualify for the benefit. However, people whose dental care needs are met by those provincial and territorial programs and who, as a result, don’t have out of pocket costs that are fully reimbursed, won’t be eligible for the benefit and shouldn’t apply.

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• Under the proposed legislation (Bill C-31), starting in 2022, families with children under 12 that have an income of less than $90,000, will be able to apply for up to $650 for each eligible child in each of two annual benefit periods.
• To be eligible, the child must not have access to private dental care insurance or have their out-of-pocket dental care expenses fully reimbursed through a different government program.
• Applicants covered by provincial or territorial programs will be eligible for the Canada Dental Benefit if they meet all of the criteria to qualify for the benefit. However, people whose dental care needs are met by those provincial and territorial program and who, as a result, don’t have out of pocket costs that are not fully reimbursed, won’t be eligible for the benefit and shouldn’t apply.