The feds have provided a thrilling glimpse of their future expansion of the federal dental coverage plan. Beginning June 1st, millions more Canadians will have access to this critical service! This expansion is included in a longer supply-and-confidence arrangement between the governing Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP). On Saturday, they released the report. It’s come just a day or two before Prime Minister Mark Carney joins our three territorial leaders to formally kick off his first ever federal election campaign.
Over 1.7 million Canadians have taken advantage of the program since it was launched. Originally launched as a senior-only program in December 2023, the program has slowly added in children and individuals with disabilities, among other populations. With this latest announcement, the government expects that another 4.5 million Canadians will soon have access to the benefit.
The program is a proactive step toward preventative health care – a long-term, positive measure that saves both lives and money for Canadians.
“It’s not about cleaning teeth. It’s about preventative health care which is saving lives while also saving money for Canadians,” said Liberal Health Minister Kamal Khera.
It will be available to all Canadians with household incomes below $90,000 starting in May. This opportunity extends to those who are not privately insured, under the new guidelines. Minister Khera outlined the phased application process:
“On May 1, applications will open for Canadians aged 55 to 64. This will be followed by people ages 18 to 34 on May 15 and people ages 35 to 54 on May 29.”
Though this program has been remarkably successful, the fate of the dental care program is uncertain. The federal Conservatives have been silent on whether they would continue the funding for the 12-year initiative if they win power. This uncertainty is compounded by the reality that the program has turned into a lifeline for many Canadians. These people couldn’t afford to go to the dentist before this pandemic.
