Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): who qualifies and what you pay
Eligibility rules for the 2026–2027 benefit period, how to apply, what the plan covers and what it does not, and the co-payment by family income.
You qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) if your adjusted family net income is under $90,000, you have no access to private dental insurance, you and your spouse or partner have filed your tax returns, and you are both residents of Canada for tax purposes. Applications are open now for the 2026–2027 period, and since May 2025 every eligible age group can apply. If your family income is under $70,000, the plan covers 100% of its approved fee for a service.
The four eligibility conditions
All four conditions must be met at the same time:
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| No private dental insurance | You do not have access to private dental coverage from any source |
| Income | Adjusted family net income under $90,000 |
| Tax return | Filed by you and by your spouse or common-law partner |
| Tax residency | You and your spouse are residents of Canada for tax purposes |
Age is no longer a barrier. The plan started with seniors, then children under 18 and people with a disability tax credit certificate. In May 2025 applications opened to all eligible adults aged 18 to 64, with coverage starting on 1 June 2025.
What counts as "private dental insurance"
You are not eligible if you have access to dental coverage through:
- Your job or your pension plan.
- A family member's job or pension plan.
- A professional or student organization.
- Insurance bought by you or a family member, including any supplementary plan that covers dental.
What counts is access to insurance, not whether you use it: if your employer offered you dental coverage and you declined it, you are most likely not eligible. To check, look at box 45 of your T4 slip or box 015 of your T4A: code 1 means no dental coverage was available, and codes 2 to 5 mean it was offered to you.
Coverage through a federal, provincial or territorial government social program does not stop you from qualifying. There is also an exception for retirees who opted out of dental coverage in their pension plan before 11 December 2023 and cannot opt back in.
How adjusted family net income is calculated
Start with your family's net income from line 23600 of the tax return, subtract UCCB and RDSP income (lines 11700 and 12500), and add back any amounts you repaid (lines 21300 and 23200). That is why nobody can confirm your eligibility without a filed tax return. If you have not filed yet, start with our tax return guide, and make sure you have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).
Quick examples: does your family qualify?
We applied the official rules to situations that are common among newcomer families in Canada. Service Canada makes the final decision after reviewing the application, but these examples save you the guesswork:
| Situation | Likely outcome | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A couple with adjusted income of $64,000, both in jobs with no dental insurance, returns filed | Eligible, no co-payment | Income is under $70,000 and there is no access to private insurance |
| A family with income of $84,000; the father's employer offers dental insurance, which he declined | Most likely not eligible | The test is access to insurance, not use of it |
| Newcomers who arrived this year and have not filed any return yet | Not eligible yet | A tax return is required for you and your spouse |
| A mother who gets dental coverage from a provincial social assistance program | May be eligible | Government coverage does not prevent eligibility |
| A family with income of $91,500 | Not eligible | The limit is under $90,000 |
If you are close to one of the thresholds, remember that the figure used is the adjusted net income from your return, not your gross salary. Contributions deducted before net income can move you into a lower bracket.
Co-payment by family income
The plan does not cover everyone at the same rate. The share of the plan's approved fee that you pay depends on your adjusted family income:
| Adjusted family net income | Plan pays | You pay (co-payment) |
|---|---|---|
| Under $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
| $90,000 or more | Not eligible | — |
The percentage applies to the fee the plan has set, not to the clinic's bill. If the clinic charges more than the plan's fee, you may pay the difference on top of your co-payment. An illustrative example: a family with income of $75,000, a plan fee of $100 for a filling, and a clinic charging $120. The family pays a $40 co-payment plus a $20 difference, so $60 in total. These figures are for illustration only; the plan's actual fees are published in its official benefit grids.
Add what you expect to pay to the family budget calculator. If you have children, also check your Canada Child Benefit, because the same tax return unlocks both.
What the plan covers
| Category | Examples from the official list |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic and preventive | Exams (complete, recall and emergency), X-rays, scaling (cleaning), fluoride and sealants |
| Basic services | Permanent and temporary fillings, root canal treatment, deep scaling below the gum line, abscess treatment and non-surgical gum disease treatment |
| Major services | Crowns; complete and immediate dentures, including repairs and relines; tooth and root removal; surgical removal of tumours and cysts |
| Anesthesia and sedation | Some types of sedation and general anesthesia |
| Orthodontics | Not currently available |
Services that need pre-authorization
Some services, including those beyond the usual frequency limits, need pre-authorization from the plan before you receive them. Examples include retreating a tooth that already had a root canal, crowns, splinting of loose teeth, conscious sedation, and deep sedation or general anesthesia. Ask your dentist to submit the pre-authorization request before the treatment, not after.
What the plan does not do
- It does not cover orthodontics at this time, according to the official page.
- It does not reimburse you directly. The plan pays the clinic only, so do not pay the full amount hoping to get it back.
- It does not cover the price difference if the clinic charges more than the plan's fee.
- It does not cover a coverage gap. If you miss the renewal deadline and re-apply, treatment during the gap is not covered, and nothing is paid retroactively.
- It does not charge application or renewal fees. Any message asking you for a payment or banking details to enrol is a scam.
How to apply, step by step
- File your tax return, you and your spouse, if you have not already.
- Gather your information: full name, date of birth and SIN for you, your spouse and any children; your home and mailing addresses; and any dental coverage you have through a government program.
- Apply online through your My Service Canada Account or through the application page on canada.ca.
- Or apply by phone with Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342, or 1-833-677-6262 (TTY) if you are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Wait for your welcome package: it states the date your coverage starts, and no service is covered before that date.
Renewing every year
The benefit period ends on 30 June each year, and renewal is not automatic. The last renewal deadline was 1 June 2026 and it has now closed; renewal for the 2027–2028 period opens in spring 2027. If you miss it, you must re-apply, with a gap in coverage until the new application is approved. Put the date in your calendar now, and follow our updates page for the exact date.
How to find a dentist who accepts the CDCP
Do not assume your current dentist accepts the plan just because they have heard of it. Before your first appointment:
- Confirm the clinic will see you as a CDCP patient and will bill Sun Life directly, since Sun Life handles the claims.
- Ask about your co-payment rate and any extra costs the plan does not cover that you will be asked to pay on the day.
- Search the provider search tool on Sun Life's CDCP website. The tool does not list every participating clinic, so also call clinics and dental schools in your area directly.
You can also search our dentists directory, and ask each clinic directly whether it accepts the CDCP before you book. To understand your provincial health system and what it covers, see our guide to health care in Canada.
This page is general information about a government program and does not replace your dentist's assessment. Coverage for each service is decided individually, based on your oral health and medical situation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the plan only for permanent residents?
The official requirement is residence in Canada for tax purposes and a filed tax return, along with the other conditions. The eligibility page does not mention permanent residence or citizenship as a requirement.
My employer offered me dental insurance and I declined. Do I qualify?
Most likely not, because the test is access to insurance. Check box 45 of your T4 slip; codes 2 to 5 mean coverage was offered to you.
My family income is $72,000. How much do I pay?
40% of the plan's approved fee, plus any difference if the clinic charges more than the plan's fee.
Does the plan cover braces for my children?
Not at this time. The official page states that orthodontic services are not currently available.
Do I pay the clinic and then get reimbursed?
No. The plan pays clinics only and does not accept claims from patients, so ask the clinic to bill the plan directly.
Do I need to renew every year?
Yes. The benefit period ends on 30 June, renewal opens in the spring, and missing it means a gap with no coverage.