For millions of Canadians, going to the dentist has always been a financial calculation rather than a health decision. Canada historically did not include dental care in its public health system, meaning roughly one in three Canadians had no dental coverage at all, and many simply stopped going to the dentist rather than face the cost. That changed with the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and the numbers now tell a story public health advocates have been working toward for years. More than six million Canadians are enrolled, nearly 100 percent of active dental providers across the country are participating, and eligible members are saving an average of 900 dollars per year on oral health care. Among the most powerful details: for some of the people now using the plan, it marks their first visit to a dentist in decades, something administrators describe as one of the most meaningful outcomes they have seen since the program launched.
The plan is open to Canadian residents without private dental insurance whose household income falls below 90,000 dollars annually. Those earning under 70,000 dollars receive full coverage at no out-of-pocket cost. Covered services include cleanings, fillings, dentures and a range of other essential treatments. Public health officials have also pointed to a system-wide benefit that extends beyond individual savings: emergency room visits for preventable dental conditions cost Canada’s health system tens of millions of dollars every year, and routine dental access is expected to gradually reduce that pressure. The program recently opened its second annual renewal season, with existing members encouraged to renew by June 1 to keep coverage uninterrupted. New applicants can also enroll throughout the year. For anyone who spent years skipping dental appointments because the bill felt impossible, the program has a simple message: the care is available and for millions of Canadians it is now completely free.
Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html
