Concerns Over Next Stage of Canada’s Dental Care Plan

Expanded Coverage Planned for 2025, but Uncertainty Looms

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is poised for a significant expansion in 2025, aiming to include adults aged 18 to 64 with a net family income below $90,000 who lack private dental insurance. This represents the largest cohort of Canadians to be covered by the program to date.

Launched in December 2023, the CDCP initially targeted seniors over 65, children under 18, and individuals with a Disability Tax Credit for that year. However, the timeline for the next phase remains unclear. According to rabble.ca, Health Minister Mark Holland announced in October 2024 that the rollout would occur in “early 2025,” but Health Canada has not confirmed a specific date.

Dentist Brandon Doucet, founder of the Coalition for Dental Care, voiced concerns about potential delays in the program’s implementation. “If this program doesn’t get fully implemented in this Parliament, then the next government will not be so friendly to it because it’s looking like it’s going to be a Conservative government,” Doucet told rabble.ca.

Political Turmoil Adds to Uncertainty

The program’s fate is further complicated by recent political developments. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as Liberal Party leader and prime minister on January 8, 2025. He also prorogued Parliament until March 24, halting all legislative activity, including any new laws or ongoing committee work.

Although funding for the CDCP has already passed Parliament, concerns remain that the prorogation and an impending election could jeopardize the program’s expansion. “If the program is not fully up and running, it’s not going to continue to get expanded,” Doucet explained, adding that only about one-third of the planned nine million Canadians have been approved for coverage so far.

The Importance of Accessible Dental Care

The CDCP represents a response to long-standing challenges in Canadian dental care. Maneesh Jain, president of the Ontario Dental Association (ODA), highlighted the critical need for expanded access. “Access to oral health care in Canada has been a challenge, too often an impossibility, for those without dental coverage for many decades,” Jain said in an email to rabble.ca.

Jain noted the broader health implications of poor dental care, linking it to conditions like cardiovascular disease, dementia, and diabetes. Doucet underscored the program’s significance, pointing out that Canada ranked second-last among OECD countries in public dental spending as a percentage of total dental expenditure. Before the CDCP, only 6% of dental spending in Canada came from public programs, compared to 10% in the United States.

Financial and Social Impacts of Limited Care

Before the CDCP, public dental programs were limited in scope, often covering only emergency procedures like extractions. “These programs often cover only emergency services…neglect[ing] preventative services and early intervention,” Doucet told rabble.ca.

The inadequacy of past programs forced many dentists to absorb costs or refuse publicly insured patients altogether. Some patients resorted to desperate measures, including attempting to extract their own teeth. “You could imagine the level of desperation someone has to have that,” Doucet remarked. He also emphasized how poor dental health can perpetuate poverty by hindering job prospects due to visible decay or missing teeth.

Employer Coverage Concerns

The CDCP’s introduction has raised concerns among dental professionals about unintended consequences, particularly the possibility of employers dropping private insurance for employees who qualify for the plan. The Canadian Dental Association warned that this could increase the program’s costs and force the government to reduce benefits to manage demand.

Jain echoed these concerns, stating that such actions could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs for some Canadians. For households earning $70,000 to $90,000 annually, the CDCP covers only 40% to 60% of care, leaving individuals to pay the remainder. However, Doucet argued that such risks could be mitigated through progressive taxation or corporate contributions. “It’s a very easy thing to do,” he stated.

Looking Ahead

As the CDCP awaits its next phase of implementation, many are hopeful that it will address long-standing disparities in dental care access. However, political uncertainties and concerns about program sustainability continue to pose significant challenges. For now, advocates and practitioners alike are closely watching how the government will navigate the road ahead.