The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

The CDCP is a federal government program launched by Canada to improve access to dental care for eligible residents who lack dental insurance.

How It Works:

• Eligible individuals apply through Health Canada (online or by mail, depending on the phase). Once approved, they receive a coverage start date and use participating oral health providers.
• Dentists verify eligibility and submit claims to Sun Life. Participation is optional, so patients may need to find a provider via Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search tool.

Context and Impact:

The CDCP addresses a gap where only about 6% of dental spending in Canada was publicly funded pre-program, compared to 10% in the U.S. It’s not a universal “free” plan but a subsidy to ease costs.