Canadian Dental Care Plan @ Oshawa Dental Arts
We are happy to accept all CDCP patients. Learn about balance billing, fee guides, and what this means for your dental care
As of May 1st, 2024, the Canadian Government dental plan, the “CDCP”, began providing coverage for patients who have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000.
We at Oshawa Dental Arts believe this program can be very successful in providing necessary dental benefits to many patients who have not previously been eligible for provincial programs and require dental treatment.
CDCP Benefits
Essential dental services and preventative services Coverage
Coverage for essential dental services such as: Regular check-ups, cleanings, fillings and emergency care.
Reduced Costs for Patients
The CDCP plan can significantly reduce out-of-pocket cost for dental treatment, which makes essential and emergency dental care affordable for eligible families and individuals.
Understanding Balance Billing
A confusing term that you may hear is “balance billing”. In this next section, we want to clarify what this means and what it means for you as a patient.
Some background information:
All dentists in Ontario are regulated by The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) and supported by the Ontario Dental Association (ODA). Every year, a fee guide/price list is printed by the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) and distributed across to every registered dentist in Ontario.
This fee guide/price list is determined by multiple factors and consideration of the cost of running a dental office each year. Some examples are costs of dental supplies, staff wages, lab fees as each year there is a raise in these prices which leads to a raise in the fee guide.
Important Point:
We as health care practitioners do not chose our fees. It is set by the Ontario Dental Association (ODA). Our responsibility is to provide the best care possible for our patients. It is unethical and discriminatory for us to charge one demographic more than another demographic. Exceptions can not be made, fees must be the same for everyone.
Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) Fee guide vs Ontario Dental Association (ODA) Fee guide
The CDCP fee guide is not the same as the ODA fee guide. There are major differences when comparing more complex procedures
The Importance of Balance Billing
If dental offices were to remove balance billing for patients on the CDCP program then this would need to apply to everyone, including those with insurance coverage, patients who do not qualify for CDCP and patients without insurance coverage. This will likely make any dental office not sustainable.
Balance Billing Examples
Here’s an example of balance billing for a filling
Scenario 1: 100% CDCP Coverage
Annual household net income Less than $70,000.00
Scenario 2: 60% CDCP Coverage
Annual household net income between $70,000 & $79,999
How to Apply for CDCP
Eligibility Requirements
You must meet all 4 of the eligibility requirements before applying:
- Be a Canadian resident
- Have filed your tax return for the previous year
- Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000
Not have access to dental insurance
Ready to Apply?
Applications are now open for all eligible Canadians. You can apply online through the official Government of Canada website.
What You'll Need to Apply
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) for each applicant
- Date of birth and full name
- Home and mailing address
- List of dental coverage through government social programs (if applicable)
- Previous year’s tax return and notice of assessment
Need Help?
If you need assistance with your application, you can:
- Call Service Canada: 1-833-537-4342
- TTY service: 1-833-677-6262
- Visit a Service Canada office
- Ask a trusted person to help you apply
Ongoing Efforts for Improvement
The Ontario Dental Association has been diligently working alongside the Federal Government to help structure the CDCP Dental Plan. Even though the plan is essentially beginning, the ODA is still collaborating with the Government to restructure the CDCP Fee Guide to match that of ODA Fee guide, putting less financial responsibility on the patient. We recognize the importance of this program in the community and the impact it can have, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
Ready to Get Started with CDCP?
We are happy to accept all CDCP patients! Contact us today to learn more about CDCP and schedule your appointment with our experienced team
