Canada’s Dental Care Plan Sees Two Million Seniors Sign Up, But Only 10,000 Providers Enrolled
Health Minister Mark Holland defended Canada’s dental care plan on Wednesday, stating that the program is “getting there” despite criticism from the Conservative party. The program, which has now seen two million seniors sign up, aims to provide oral health care to up to nine million low-income uninsured Canadians of all ages by 2025.
Holland addressed concerns about the low number of oral health providers enrolled in the program, with just 10,000 providers currently participating. He accused the Conservatives of spreading misinformation and trying to scare providers away from participating in the program.
Despite the challenges, Holland remains optimistic about the program’s progress, noting that more providers are joining each week. He emphasized that the program has already allowed seniors to address complicated oral health issues and will continue to expand to cover more Canadians in the coming years.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan, which is not a formal insurance plan, covers a range of oral health services including cleanings, X-rays, cavity fillings, dentures, and root canals. Children under 18 and Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate will be eligible to enroll next month, with remaining eligible Canadians gaining access in 2025.
Providers will soon be able to directly bill Sun Life, the program’s operator, for services provided on a claim-by-claim basis starting in July. The federal government has committed $13 billion over five years to implement the program, with an annual budget of $4.4 billion thereafter.
As the program continues to roll out, Holland is working to address concerns from dental associations and providers about administrative burdens and reimbursement structures. Despite these challenges, he remains confident that the program is making progress and will ultimately provide much-needed oral health care to millions of Canadians.