Budget 2024 is strengthening Canada's social safety net by improving access to dental care so that every generation can have a fair shot at receiving the care they deserve while making life cost less.
Starting June 27, Canadian Dental Care Plan applications open to children under 18 and persons with disabilities
June 18, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Department of Finance Canada
Budget 2024 is strengthening Canada's social safety net by improving access to dental care so that every generation can have a fair shot at receiving the care they deserve while making life cost less.
The federal government is continuing to roll out the Canadian Dental Care Plan to provide dental coverage for uninsured Canadians with an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000. Since this measure was announced in Budget 2023, historic progress has been made to be able to cover one quarter of Canadian residents who don't have access to oral health coverage. Children under the age of 12 are already receiving dental care with the interim Canada Dental Benefit, which has supported over 450,000children. To date, over 2 million applications have been approved for eligible seniors, many of whom are now able to visit an oral health provider.
On June 27, the Canadian Dental Care Plan will expand to include children under 18 and persons with a valid disability tax credit certificate. Eligible Canadians will be able to apply online through Service Canada. Coverage start date, details of coverage, and member cards will be sent to successful applicants by Sun Life, the contracted service provider, in a welcome package.
In 2025, online applications will open for uninsured Canadians between the ages of 18 and 64. Once fully implemented, the Canadian Dental Care Plan will cover 9 million Canadians, saving families money, significantly improving health outcomes, and making health care in Canada fairer for every generation.
Through Budget 2024, the federal government is building a fairer Canada, where every generation can reach their full potential—including getting the dental care they need. It is making Canada’s tax system fairer by asking the very wealthiest to pay their fair share—so that we can make investments in health and prosperity for every generation.
“Too many Canadians are going without the dental care they need. That is why we launched the Canadian Dental Care Plan—a transformative expansion of Canada's social safety net—to ensure every Canadian can get the dental care they need. By next year, nine million uninsured Canadians will have their dental care covered. That's what fairness is about.”
– The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
“One in four Canadians avoided visiting the dentist because of the cost – the Canadian Dental Care Plan will change that. Since its launch 6 weeks ago, over 200,000 Canadians have seen an oral health provider. As eligibility continues to open to new groups, even more Canadians will have access to a plan that will improve health outcomes, reduce the burden on our healthcare system, and build a foundation of equity for every Canadian to have the confidence that comes with a great smile.”
– The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health
“Dental care is health care, and Canadians should not have to choose between paying their bills and getting the care they need. Millions of seniors have already benefitted from the Canada Dental Care Plan, and with this expanded eligibility that number will continue to grow. Thanks to our plan, Canadians can get dental care when they need it — that’s fairness for every generation.”
– The Honourable Anita Anand, Treasury Board President
“No parent should have to choose between taking care of their kid’s teeth and paying their bills. More children across Canada will now have access to the dental care they need to have healthy smiles. This is yet another step we are taking to help support hard-working families, make life cost less, and ensure fairness for every generation.”
– The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
In Budget 2024, the government is delivering fairness for every generation with a housing plan that includes nearly 4 million new homes; transformative expansions to Canada’s social safety net to make life cost less and ensure Canadians get the care they need; and investments in innovation and productivity to create good jobs and economic growth. The government’s plan for tax fairness makes these investments in younger generations possible by increasing capital gains taxes on 0.13 per cent of Canadians, in any given year, to generate $19.4 billion in new revenue over five years.
Increasing the inclusion rate on capital gains is also expected to generate significant new revenue for provincial and territorial governments, equivalent to up to 60 per cent of the new federal revenue ($11.64 billion over five years). For provinces and territories, this new revenue can be used to lift up every generation by making transformative investments in housing, health care, education, child care, infrastructure, and more.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan, which launched in December 2023, is already covering over 2 million seniors. The Plan is administered by Health Canada in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), through Service Canada, and Sun Life. Those who are unable to apply online can contact the CDCP call centre at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY: 1-833-677-6262) or visit any Service Canada Centre.
- Budget 2023 announced an investment of $13 billion over five years, starting in 2023-24, and $4.4 billion ongoing, to implement the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
- The Canada Dental Benefit will continue to support families with children under the age of 12 until June 30, 2024. Parents and caregivers will be able to apply for the CDCP for children under the age of 18 as of June 27, 2024.
- Awide range of oral health care servicesare covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan to prevent and treat oral health disease. Examples of these services include preventive care such as scaling (cleaning), polishing, as well as other services such as exams, x-rays, fillings, removable dentures, and root canal treatments.
- As part of a continuous improvement approach, the Canadian Dental Care Plan will be reviewed regularly based on data and evidence to ensure it meets the needs of Canadians.
The federal government is delivering $200billion over 10 years to strengthen universal public health care for Canadians, as announced in February 2023.
- All provinces and territories have since signed tailoredbilateral agreementsto begin delivering $25billion in new health care funding and make sure that high-quality health care is available to everyone in Canada.
To help Canada’s health care systems attract and retain the health care professionals our communities need, in Budget 2024, the federal government expanded interest-free Canada Student Loan forgiveness to more health care professionals who choose to work in rural and remote communities. Building on already available student loan forgiveness of up to $60,000 for doctors, and up to $30,000 for nurses, Budget 2024 expands student loan forgiveness to rural and remote dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, midwives, teachers, social workers, personal support workers, physiotherapists, and psychologists.
In Budget 2024, the federal government launched the Canada Disability Benefit, to help improve the financial well-being of over 600,000 low-income persons with disabilities by delivering up to $2,400 in direct support every year. This benefit is intended to supplement, not replace, existing provincial and territorial income supports for persons with disability.
To give every child the best start in life, the federal government is also:
- Giving families more money through the Canada Child Benefit to help with the costs of raising their children and make a real difference in the lives of children in Canada. The Canada Child Benefit, which provides up to $7,437 per child per year, is indexed annually to keep up with the cost of living and has helped lift half a million children out of poverty since its launch in 2016.
- Creating a National School Food Program to ensure every child has the best start in life, with the food they need to learn and grow, no matter their circ*mstances.
- Supporting after-school learning with an investment of $67.5million to help all Canadian students reach their full potential. After-school learning and supports play an important role in helping students succeed in their academic pursuits, especially for at-risk students.
Katherine Cuplinskas
Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Katherine.Cuplinskas@fin.gc.ca
Christopher Aoun
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health
613-291-4176
