Canadian Dental Care Plan 2026: Who Qualifies, Co-Pays and How to Apply
The Canadian Dental Care Plan pays for some or all of your dental care if you have no dental insurance and your adjusted family net income is under $90,000.
- Rules checked October 24, 2026
- By Krish Paul
- 9 min read
On this page
- The short answer
- Who qualifies for the CDCP
- Eligibility checklist
- What the plan covers
- What you pay: co-payments and extra charges
- Worked example: a bigger bill at the 40% level
- Before every appointment
- How to apply
- Key dates for 2026 to 2027
- If a claim is refused or something looks wrong
- Common mistakes
- Frequently asked questions
This guide covers who qualifies, what you pay at each income level, what is covered and how to apply for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period. It also shows how to check your own bill before treatment.
The short answer
You can get the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) if you have no access to dental insurance, you and your partner filed your taxes, your adjusted family net income is under $90,000 and you are a Canadian resident for tax purposes. Below $70,000 of income you pay no co-payment. From $70,000 to $79,999 you pay 40% of the CDCP fee, and from $80,000 to $89,999 you pay 60%. Applications for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period are open now.
Service Canada handles applications and Sun Life processes claims. Your dentist bills the plan directly, so you do not send in receipts. The Government of Canada says over 6.5 million people are covered.
Who qualifies for the CDCP
The eligibility page lists four rules. You must meet all of them.
- No access to dental insurance. This includes coverage through work, a pension, a family member, a professional or student group, or a plan you buy yourself.
- A filed tax return. You must have filed in Canada, and so must your spouse or common-law partner.
- Adjusted family net income under $90,000.
- Canadian residence for tax purposes, for you and your partner.
Having dental coverage through a provincial, territorial or federal social program does not rule you out. The CDCP and that program may coordinate so the same service is not paid twice.
What counts as access to dental insurance
This is the rule that trips people up. Service Canada says you have access if coverage is available to you, even if you did not enrol, never used it, pay a premium for it or it does not cover the full cost.
Opting out of pension dental coverage after December 11, 2023 still counts as access. The only exception is a retiree who opted out before December 11, 2023 and cannot opt back in.
Your tax slips show what your employer or pension plan reported. Check yours and your partner’s before you apply.
| Slip | Box | What the code means |
|---|---|---|
| T4 (employment) | Box 45 | Code 1: no access. Codes 2 to 5: coverage was offered |
| T4A (pension) | Box 015 | Code 1: no access. Codes 2 to 5: coverage was offered |
Source: Service Canada, Do you qualify, modified September 22, 2026. If a slip is wrong, ask the employer or pension administrator to fix it before you apply or renew.
How adjusted family net income is worked out
The plan uses your tax return and your partner’s. Start with family net income from line 23600. Subtract any Universal Child Care Benefit and Registered Disability Savings Plan income (lines 11700 and 12500). Then add back any of those amounts you repaid (lines 21300 and 23200).
Eligibility checklist
- Look at your T4 box 45 or T4A box 015. A code of 1 is what you want. Check your partner’s slips too.
- Confirm both returns are filed. Members who renewed for 2026 to 2027 needed their 2025 notice of assessment first.
- Add up adjusted family net income. It must be under $90,000. The figure also sets your co-payment level.
- Confirm residence. You and your partner must both be Canadian residents for tax purposes.
- List any government dental coverage. The application asks for it.
What the plan covers
The coverage page groups services into four types.
- Preventive and diagnostic: exams, x-rays, cleanings, fluoride and sealants.
- Basic: fillings, root canals and gum treatment.
- Major: crowns, posts, dentures and oral surgery, such as removing teeth.
- Sedation: from nitrous oxide up to general anesthesia.
Orthodontic services such as braces are not currently available. The CDCP Dental Benefits Guide also excludes cosmetic treatment, including teeth whitening and veneers. Crowns are not covered just to improve how teeth look.
Preauthorization and frequency limits
Some services need approval before treatment. These include crowns, posts, partial dentures, root canal re-treatments, conscious or deep sedation and anything beyond the normal frequency limits. Your provider sends the request. Not every request is approved, and most approvals last up to 12 months.
| Service | Limit |
|---|---|
| Examinations | Up to 3 in any 12 months |
| Intraoral x-rays | 8 images in any 12 months |
| Fillings | Once per tooth surface in any 24 months |
| Crowns | 4 per person in any 120 months, 1 per tooth in 96 months |
| Complete dentures (standard) | Once per arch in any 96 months |
| Partial acrylic dentures | Once per arch in any 60 months |
Source: CDCP Dental Benefits Guide, effective April 1, 2026, modified August 28, 2026. Limits are rolling periods, not calendar years.
What you pay: co-payments and extra charges
The plan pays providers a set amount for each service, called the CDCP fee. Your share depends on two things: your co-payment level and whether your provider charges more than the CDCP fee.
| Adjusted family net income | Plan pays of the CDCP fee | Your co-payment |
|---|---|---|
| Below $70,000 | 100% | 0% |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 60% | 40% |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 40% | 60% |
Source: Service Canada, Covered services, modified August 27, 2026.
On top of the co-payment, you pay the difference if your provider charges more than the CDCP fee. You also pay for any service the plan does not cover that you agree to. Service Canada advises asking about these costs before treatment starts.
The official example, reproduced
Service Canada’s factsheet uses a 30-minute cleaning. The provider charges $145 and the CDCP fee is $134, so there is an $11 difference at every income level.
| Income level | Plan pays | Your co-payment | Extra charge | You pay in total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below $70,000 | $134.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | $11.00 |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | $80.40 | $53.60 | $11.00 | $64.60 |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | $53.60 | $80.40 | $11.00 | $91.40 |
Figures match Service Canada’s examples of co-payments and additional charges, modified November 6, 2024. Gizly recalculated each row in Python.
Worked example: a bigger bill at the 40% level
Take a hypothetical couple with adjusted family net income of $75,000. Their dentist recommends a crown. Assume, for illustration only, that the CDCP fee is $1,000 and the dentist charges $1,150. Real fees vary by service, province and provider.
- Get preauthorization. Crowns need it, so the dentist sends a request and waits for approval.
- Find the extra charge. $1,150 minus $1,000 is $150.
- Work out the co-payment. 40% of the $1,000 CDCP fee is $400.
- Add them up. $150 plus $400 is $550 out of pocket. The plan pays the dentist $600.
Hypothetical figures. At income below $70,000 the same crown would cost $150, and at $80,000 to $89,999 it would cost $750. Gizly checked each total two ways: co-payment plus extra charge, and provider charge minus what the plan pays.
Before every appointment
Coverage is only paid for care after your start date, and the plan can review your eligibility at any time.
- Confirm coverage is activeService Canada says to check before care and at every appointment.
- Ask for a cost estimateYour provider can check coverage with Sun Life before treatment.
- Bring your detailsYour member ID, ID, start date and co-payment level.
How to apply
There is no fee to apply. Service Canada warns about scams that ask for banking or credit card details.
- Gather the details. For you, each dependant and your partner: Social Insurance Number (if a child has one), date of birth, full name, home and mailing address, and any government dental coverage.
- Apply online or by phone. Use My Service Canada Account, the online form on Canada.ca, or call 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262).
- Include your children. Dependants go on your application.
- Have your partner apply too. Your spouse or common-law partner must send their own application to be covered.
- Wait for your letter. It confirms whether you are enrolled and shows your member ID, start date and co-payment level.
Do not book an appointment before your start date. After you are enrolled, Sun Life mails a welcome package with a member card, but you do not need to wait for it to get care. To find a dentist, ask one near you or use the Sun Life CDCP provider search. The Government of Canada says close to 100% of active dentists, denturists, hygienists and specialists treat CDCP patients.
Key dates for 2026 to 2027
| Date | What happened or happens |
|---|---|
| April 15, 2026 | Renewal period opened for current members |
| June 1, 2026 | Renewal deadline for continuous coverage |
| June 2, 2026 | Applications opened for new members and late renewals |
| Now | Applications for 2026 to 2027 are open |
| June 30, 2027 | The 2026 to 2027 benefit period ends |
| Spring 2027 | Renewals for 2027 to 2028 expected to open |
Sources: ESDC news release, April 1, 2026; Service Canada renewal page, modified September 22, 2026. The renewal page gives June 1 as the deadline.
Renewal is not automatic. Each year you confirm your details and that you still meet the rules. If you miss the deadline you can apply again, but care during the gap is not covered or paid back later.
If a claim is refused or something looks wrong
- Ask your provider first. Clinics submit claims directly to the plan within 12 months of the service. You cannot send in your own claim.
- Call Sun Life about coverage. The CDCP contact centre is 1-888-888-8110.
- Ask for a reconsideration of a refused preauthorization. Your provider can ask once, with new clinical information, within 60 days of the denial. The decision is final, and excluded services cannot be reconsidered.
- Call Service Canada about eligibility. The line is 1-833-537-4342, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, Monday to Friday.
Eligibility reviews
Service Canada compares what you attested with your T4 and T4A slips. If they do not match, you get a letter by mail. You have 45 days from the date of the letter to send a review form signed by the employer or pension plan that reported coverage.
If you do not respond, you are found ineligible. You may have to repay what the plan paid while you were ineligible, and you cannot reapply until it is repaid. If you do have access to private coverage, contact Service Canada to be removed.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a declined work plan does not count. Access is what matters, not enrolment.
- Not filing taxes. No return for you or your partner means no coverage.
- Applying for yourself only. Your partner needs a separate application.
- Booking care before the start date. It will not be covered.
- Skipping the cost question. Extra charges apply even at the 0% co-payment level.
- Missing the renewal window. A late renewal leaves a gap.
The same tax return that sets your CDCP status also sets the Canada Child Benefit and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, so filing on time protects all three. Seniors can read our Old Age Security guide for pension amounts.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
You qualify if you have no access to private dental insurance, you and your spouse or common-law partner filed a tax return in Canada, your adjusted family net income is under $90,000, and you are a Canadian resident for tax purposes. You must meet all four.
Is the Canadian Dental Care Plan free?
It is free if your adjusted family net income is below $70,000, as long as your provider charges the CDCP fee. Between $70,000 and $79,999 you pay a 40% co-payment, and between $80,000 and $89,999 you pay 60%. Any amount your provider charges above the CDCP fee is also yours to pay.
Can I get the CDCP if my employer offers dental insurance?
No. If you have access to dental coverage through work, a pension, a family member or an organization, you do not qualify, even if you did not enrol or never used it. The one exception is a retiree who opted out of pension dental coverage before December 11, 2023 and cannot opt back in.
Can I still apply for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period?
Yes. Applications for the 2026 to 2027 benefit period are open. The renewal period closed on June 1, 2026, so members who missed it must apply again and will have a gap in coverage. Care received during a gap is not covered.
Does the CDCP cover braces?
No. The Government of Canada says orthodontic services are not currently available under the CDCP. Cosmetic treatment such as teeth whitening and veneers is also excluded.
Does my spouse need to apply separately?
Yes. Your spouse or common-law partner must submit their own application to be covered. Their information on your application is only used to confirm your marital status, calculate your adjusted family net income and check for other dental coverage.
- Sources for eligibility and coverage, checked October 24, 2026: Canadian Dental Care Plan (modified 2026-10-19); CDCP: Do you qualify (modified 2026-09-22); CDCP: Covered services (modified 2026-08-27); CDCP: Examples of co-payments and additional charges (modified 2024-11-06); CDCP Dental Benefits Guide (effective 2026-04-01, modified 2026-08-28).
- Sources for applying and renewing, checked October 24, 2026: CDCP: Apply (modified 2026-09-24); CDCP: After you apply (modified 2026-08-21); CDCP: Renew (modified 2026-09-22); CDCP: Member eligibility review (modified 2026-09-22); CDCP: Contact us (modified 2026-04-10); ESDC: CDCP renewal season opens April 15 (published 2026-04-01); Health Canada: More than 6.5 million Canadians can receive services (published 2026-04-17); Health Canada: Government continues to strengthen access to oral health care (published 2026-06-02).
- Method: Co-payment and extra-charge figures were calculated in Python using exact decimal arithmetic. The same code reproduces Service Canada’s official $11.00, $64.60 and $91.40 cleaning examples. The crown example uses hypothetical fees and was checked a second way by subtracting the plan’s share from the provider charge.
Important: This guide is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your CDCP letter and your provider’s estimate show your actual coverage and costs. Gizly is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. See our affiliate disclosure.
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